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Division Spotlight
Mathematics & Computation
Division members promote the advancement of mathematical and computational methods for solving problems arising in all disciplines encompassed by the Society. They place particular emphasis on numerical techniques for efficient computer applications to aid in the dissemination, integration, and proper use of computer codes, including preparation of computational benchmark and development of standards for computing practices, and to encourage the development on new computer codes and broaden their use.
Meeting Spotlight
Utility Working Conference and Vendor Technology Expo (UWC 2024)
August 4–7, 2024
Marco Island, FL|JW Marriott Marco Island
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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Latest News
ARPA-E announces $40 million to develop transmutation technologies for UNF
The Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) announced $40 million in funding to develop cutting-edge technologies to enable the transmutation of used nuclear fuel into less-radioactive substances. According to ARPA-E, the new initiative addresses one of the agency’s core goals as outlined by Congress: to provide transformative solutions to improve the management, cleanup, and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.
Raphael Craplet, Joonhong Ahn
Nuclear Technology | Volume 177 | Number 3 | March 2012 | Pages 314-335
Technical Paper | Fuel Cycle and Management | doi.org/10.13182/NT12-A13478
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A mathematical model for mass flow in a generic nuclear fuel cycle was developed. The model can describe various fuel cycle configurations (ranging from once-through to multiple recycling) and reactor types with several regions and batches. It can also be used as a submodel in a regional or global fuel cycle system. Recursive equations for the fuel composition at each point of the cycle were obtained. For specific simplified cases, nonrecursive and equilibrium equations were also derived for compositions, with which the waste reduction ratio was formulated as a function of the system parameters, to show usage of this model for theoretical understanding of the relationship between parameters and performances of the system. A numerical code for this mathematical model was developed. For a simplified equilibrium cycle, sensitivity and constrained optimization of the toxicity reduction ratio with respect to the system parameters were investigated by using the present model and code. It appears that the most important parameter to minimize waste toxicity is the separation efficiency at reprocessing. High fuel enrichment is beneficial because it expands the parametric space within the constraints. Also, depending on the constraints that apply, either the irradiation time or the fraction of core reprocessed at each cycle will be the second most important parameter.