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Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
Young Joo Kwon
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 164 | Number 3 | March 2010 | Pages 264-286
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE09-11
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
This paper presents a finite element analysis of transient heat transfer in and around a hypothetical deep geological repository for a spent nuclear fuel (SNF) disposal canister and the heat generation of the SNF inside the canister to provide basic information for dimensioning the repository and configuring the repository components. Three geometric models are compared to determine the most suitable assuming the periodic allocation of boreholes where canisters are deposited. These models consist of several different material regions. Each model is horizontally limited to a region around and including a single canister, bounded by midsurfaces with variant distances between adjacent deposition tunnels and adjacent canisters, and vertically bounded by the ground surface located 500 m above the deposition tunnel and the surface located 500 m below the bottom of the borehole. Using a commercial finite element analysis code and detailed realistic finite element models of repository components, transient heat transfer analyses are carried out for up to 1000 yr after deposition of the canister into the repository. Time-dependent temperature curves at selected positions are obtained for each geometric model. Various temperature distribution changes of material regions in geometric models are also obtained.
