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Division Spotlight
Radiation Protection & Shielding
The Radiation Protection and Shielding Division is developing and promoting radiation protection and shielding aspects of nuclear science and technology — including interaction of nuclear radiation with materials and biological systems, instruments and techniques for the measurement of nuclear radiation fields, and radiation shield design and evaluation.
Meeting Spotlight
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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August 2024
Latest News
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.
Charles J. Call, Ralph W. Moir
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 104 | Number 4 | April 1990 | Pages 364-373
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE90-A23734
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Modifications to an old concept for using peaceful nuclear explosions to achieve practical fusion power are discussed. With this concept, useful energy and materials are obtained by repetitively setting off nuclear explosions in an underground cavity. This proposal, which is based on molten-salt technology, involves two modifications:, Line the cavity with steel to make it engineerable and predictable rather than relying on an unsupported earthen cavity such as a cavity excavated in a salt dome. Use molten salt rather than steam. More than 70% of the energy released is then absorbed by liquid-salt evaporation, and the pressure to be contained for a given yield can be reduced by a factor of 3 or more. These modifications result in several improvements in the safety and feasibility of the contained fusion concept:, The tritium produced, being insoluble in the molten salt, can easily be pumped away and purified when all the vaporized salt condenses, rather than being mixed with steam. The tritium inventory is substantially reduced, effectively reducing the large hazard in case of accidental venting to the atmosphere. Reducing the yield used in the older studies could reduce the cost of the cavity considerably. These improvements may make the concept practical today, and a reexamination of the concept appears in order.