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Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Human Factors, Instrumentation & Controls
Improving task performance, system reliability, system and personnel safety, efficiency, and effectiveness are the division's main objectives. Its major areas of interest include task design, procedures, training, instrument and control layout and placement, stress control, anthropometrics, psychological input, and motivation.
Meeting Spotlight
Conference on Nuclear Training and Education: A Biennial International Forum (CONTE 2025)
February 3–6, 2025
Amelia Island, FL|Omni Amelia Island Resort
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
Reboot: Nuclear needs a success . . . anywhere
The media have gleefully resurrected the language of a past nuclear renaissance. Beyond the hype and PR, many people in the nuclear community are taking a more measured view of conditions that could lead to new construction: data center demand, the proliferation of new reactor designs and start-ups, and the sudden ascendance of nuclear energy as the power source everyone wants—or wants to talk about.
Once built, large nuclear reactors can provide clean power for at least 80 years—outlasting 10 to 20 presidential administrations. Smaller reactors can provide heat and power outputs tailored to an end user’s needs. With all the new attention, are we any closer to getting past persistent supply chain and workforce issues and building these new plants? And what will the election of Donald Trump to a second term as president mean for nuclear?
As usual, there are more questions than answers, and most come down to money. Several developers are engaging with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or have already applied for a license, certification, or permit. But designs without paying customers won’t get built. So where are the customers, and what will it take for them to commit?
S. J. Altschuler, C. L. Schuske
Nuclear Technology | Volume 18 | Number 1 | April 1973 | Pages 55-62
Technical Note | Chemical Processing | doi.org/10.13182/NT73-A16107
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Several factors that influence the design and capacity of a fissile metal storage vault are the size and shape of individual storage units, surface density, double batching of storage units, the effects of personnel upon storage array reactivity, and the possibility of water flooding of arrays. Calculations indicate that when the fissile material is elevated 12 in. or more above the concrete floor of the vault, keff is decreased 4 to 5% when 3 in. of water is upon the concrete floor. The effect of personnel reflection upon the reactivity of an array is a strong function of the mass of a fissile unit as well as the shape and orientation of this fissile unit with regard to the reflector. For example, when a heavy flat plate of metal is held edgewise against the reflector, the value of keff is 0.804. When the plate is held flat against the reflector, keff is 1.115. A considerable penalty on storage capacity will occur if controls cannot be developed to preclude the double batching and water flooding.
