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Division Spotlight
Nuclear Criticality Safety
NCSD provides communication among nuclear criticality safety professionals through the development of standards, the evolution of training methods and materials, the presentation of technical data and procedures, and the creation of specialty publications. In these ways, the division furthers the exchange of technical information on nuclear criticality safety with the ultimate goal of promoting the safe handling of fissionable materials outside reactors.
Meeting Spotlight
International Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering (M&C 2025)
April 27–30, 2025
Denver, CO|The Westin Denver Downtown
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
TerraPower begins U.K. regulatory approval process
Seattle-based TerraPower signaled its interest this week in building its Natrium small modular reactor in the United Kingdom, the company announced.
TerraPower sent a letter to the U.K.’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, formally establishing its intention to enter the U.K. generic design assessment (GDA) process. This is TerraPower’s first step in deployment of its Natrium technology—a 345-MW sodium fast reactor coupled with a molten salt energy storage unit—on the international stage.
W. I. Thompson
Nuclear Technology | Volume 12 | Number 1 | September 1971 | Pages 63-68
Technical Paper | Fuel | doi.org/10.13182/NT71-A15899
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The GCFR fuel rod is presently designed within the same conservative limitations adopted for the LMFBR project. Since fuel rod irradiation experience is accumulating and fuel rod mathematical modeling is becoming more reliable, it is interesting to consider what improvement in power plant economics can be obtained by designing with less conservatism. Economic studies described here show that savings of over 20% in fuel cycle cost and 10% in doubling time might be achieved in this way. Increasing the rod linear heating rate reduces the fuel cycle cost. The use of thinner cladding and increased fuel density lead to reduced inventory and doubling times.
