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Division Spotlight
Accelerator Applications
The division was organized to promote the advancement of knowledge of the use of particle accelerator technologies for nuclear and other applications. It focuses on production of neutrons and other particles, utilization of these particles for scientific or industrial purposes, such as the production or destruction of radionuclides significant to energy, medicine, defense or other endeavors, as well as imaging and diagnostics.
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2024 ANS Winter Conference and Expo
November 17–21, 2024
Orlando, FL|Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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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.
A. Charlier, M. Doucet, C. Vandenberg, W. de Roovere, J. Bens
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 100 | Number 4 | December 1988 | Pages 451-457
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE88-A23578
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
For optimal operation of a power plant, it is now necessary to install an expert system in the control room, particularly to aid the operator in predicting, following, and explaining operating events. The three-dimensional MICROLUX code, foreseen for such a system, was tested on an operating event occurring in the Doel-3 reactor. After an ≈6-h scram, the return to full power (PN) was limited at 15% PN because of an unacceptable axial offset deviation, which was believed to have been caused by xenon buildup during the shutdown. The reactor was then required to be operated at reduced power for 18 h before again reaching nominal power. From the study, however, it seems that there was no danger in returning directly to full power in spite of the ex-core indications. The three-dimensional calculations and the ex-core results show that there is a need to investigate the ex-core/in-core relationship when the reactor is operated outside the calibration field. These preliminary results indicate that the axial offset concept should be analyzed on the basis of a large number of transient operating conditions with the help of three-dimensional methods, which give a better description of the core behavior during transients. The use of such methods could contribute to a safer and more economical operation of the reactor.