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Robotics & Remote Systems
The Mission of the Robotics and Remote Systems Division is to promote the development and application of immersive simulation, robotics, and remote systems for hazardous environments for the purpose of reducing hazardous exposure to individuals, reducing environmental hazards and reducing the cost of performing work.
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2024 ANS Winter Conference and Expo
November 17–21, 2024
Orlando, FL|Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
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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.
N. R. CHELLEW, R. K. STEUNENBERG
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 14 | Number 1 | September 1962 | Pages 1-7
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE62-A26192
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Swelling and rare gas release of irradiated prototype EBR-II fuel pins during heating have been studied with material containing 320 to 830 ppm of these gases (0.2 to 0.6 at. % burnup). Data on both phenomena were obtained at varied heating rates and with stepwise heating to successively higher temperature levels. In each experiment, over 99% of the rare gases was released before the alloy was fully molten at about 1080°C. Within experimental error the behaviors of xenon-133 and krypton-85 were identical. Below 750°C, gas release was slow; above 750°C, the rate increased sharply. The quantity of gas evolved as a function of time at constant temperatures to 850°C appeared to be directly proportional to the time rather than the square root of time as predicted by diffusion theory. Swelling of the alloy showed much the same type of temperature dependence as the release of rare gas. For all heating patterns, pin swelling was most pronounced above 750°C, reaching a maximum diametral increase of about 47% as the pin melted. A brief comparison between the release of rare gas from this alloy and that from other metallic fuels is made. The effects of this phenomenon and associated swelling on the melt refining process envisioned for recovery of fuel from the first core loading of EBR-II are discussed.