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The mission of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy Division (NNPD) is to promote the peaceful use of nuclear technology while simultaneously preventing the diversion and misuse of nuclear material and technology through appropriate safeguards and security, and promotion of nuclear nonproliferation policies. To achieve this mission, the objectives of the NNPD are to: Promote policy that discourages the proliferation of nuclear technology and material to inappropriate entities. Provide information to ANS members, the technical community at large, opinion leaders, and decision makers to improve their understanding of nuclear nonproliferation issues. Become a recognized technical resource on nuclear nonproliferation, safeguards, and security issues. Serve as the integration and coordination body for nuclear nonproliferation activities for the ANS. Work cooperatively with other ANS divisions to achieve these objective nonproliferation policies.
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Orlando, FL|Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
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New laws offer nuclear industry incentives for existing power plant uprates
This year, the U.S. nuclear industry received a much-needed economic boost that could help preserve operating nuclear power plants and incentivize upgrades that extend their lifespan and power output.
Signed into law in 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act offers production tax credits (PTCs) for existing nuclear power plants and either PTCs or investment tax credits (ITCs) for new carbon-free generation. These credits could make power uprates—increasing the maximum power level at which a commercial plant may operate—a much more appealing option for utilities.
J. K. Dickens, J. W. McConnell
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 73 | Number 1 | January 1980 | Pages 42-55
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE80-A18707
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Absolute cumulative yields have been determined for 49 fission products representing 36 mass chains created during thermal-neutron fission of 239Pu, including 3 mass chains for which no prior data exist. Using Ge(Li) spectroscopy, spectra were obtained of gamma rays from decay of fission products between 1550 s and 31 days after a 100-s irradiation. Data were obtained for all fission products simultaneously. Gamma rays were assigned to the responsible fission products by matching gamma-ray energies and half-lives. Gamma-ray data associated with decay of 135I and 140Ba-140La, in particular, were thoroughly studied; uncertainties were obtained for the two largest intensity gamma rays from decay of 135I that are smaller than previously evaluated uncertainties. Fission product yields were obtained from the data by first determining the appropriate gamma-ray activity as of the end of the irradiation, then correcting for detector efficiency and gamma-ray branching ratio, and, finally, dividing by the number of fissions created in the sample. The number of fissions was determined by direct comparison of gamma rays emanating from fission products created during a careful irradiation of a well-calibrated 239Pu-loaded fission chamber. The resulting fission product yields are compared with previous measurements and with recommended yields given in two recent (and independent) evaluations. The present results are significantly larger for mass chains 101 and 105, somewhat smaller for mass chains 87 and 151, and in reasonable agreement with the remaining mass chains. Uncertainties assigned to the present results range between 2.5 and 25%, and are smaller than or comparable to uncertainties assigned to previous experimental (or evaluated) yields for 14 mass chains.