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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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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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Deep Space: The new frontier of radiation controls
In commercial nuclear power, there has always been a deliberate tension between the regulator and the utility owner. The regulator fundamentally exists to protect the worker, and the utility, to make a profit. It is a win-win balance.
From the U.S. nuclear industry has emerged a brilliantly successful occupational nuclear safety record—largely the result of an ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) process that has driven exposure rates down to what only a decade ago would have been considered unthinkable. In the U.S. nuclear industry, the system has accomplished an excellent, nearly seamless process that succeeds to the benefit of both employee and utility owner.
T. J. Neubert, R. B. Lees
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 2 | Number 6 | November 1957 | Pages 748-767
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE57-A35490
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Fast neutron bombardment of graphite displaces carbon atoms to interstitial positions and produces lattice vacancies. Upon heating the interstitial disturbances become mobile, move to more stable positions and release stored energy. The thermal release of stored energy was investigated by relative specific heat measurements, which are described in detail. Data are presented which show the dependence of energy storage upon extent of neutron bombardment and upon temperature of bombardment. Activation energy spectra for the thermal release of stored energy are calculated. The general trends of the data are discussed. Estimates are made of the numbers of interstitial carbon atoms, interstitial carbon (C2) molecules, and lattice vacancies in a sample of low bombardment. It is suggested that annealing of irradiated graphite causes much of the interstitial material to reintegrate with the graphite lattice by filling lattice vacancies.
