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Division Spotlight
Fusion Energy
This division promotes the development and timely introduction of fusion energy as a sustainable energy source with favorable economic, environmental, and safety attributes. The division cooperates with other organizations on common issues of multidisciplinary fusion science and technology, conducts professional meetings, and disseminates technical information in support of these goals. Members focus on the assessment and resolution of critical developmental issues for practical fusion energy applications.
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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Nuclear Science and Engineering
December 2024
Nuclear Technology
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November 2024
Latest News
Japanese researchers test detection devices at West Valley
Two research scientists from Japan’s Kyoto University and Kochi University of Technology visited the West Valley Demonstration Project in western New York state earlier this fall to test their novel radiation detectors, the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management announced on November 19.
Muhammad Ishaq, Muhammad Zaman, Muhammad Ilyas, Alam Nawaz Khan Wardag, Mansoor H. Inayat
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 198 | Number 12 | December 2024 | Pages 2382-2402
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2024.2328967
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Innovative reactor designs like small modular reactors (SMRs) have the potential to operate in a natural circulation (NC) boiling mode, but this mode introduces flow oscillations that pose a risk to nuclear safety. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the effects of various parameters on these oscillations. This study focuses on predicting the operational behavior of the Integral PWR-type SMR Test Rig (iPSTR) when operating in NC and subcooled boiling conditions. The iPSTR replicates an NC boiling loop with a vertical heater, vertical cooler configuration, high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, and nonuniform diameter structure. Using the RELAP5 model, thermal-hydraulic simulations were performed to anticipate how varying degrees of inlet subcooling affects parameters such as mass flow rate and void fraction, with experimental data used to validate the model’s accuracy. This investigation covers a range of process conditions, including system pressures from 5 to 20 bars, core input power varying from 8.5 to 14.5 kW, and degrees of inlet subcooling from 1 to 49 K. The results reveal that increasing input power leads to higher average mass flow rates, while at a constant system pressure, higher input power stabilizes flow rates at higher degrees of inlet subcooling. Moreover, reduced and more consistent oscillation amplitudes and frequencies at higher core power result at more elevated system pressure, enhancing the safety of the iPSTR facility.