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Conference Spotlight
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.
Dirk Wilhelm
Nuclear Technology | Volume 39 | Number 1 | June 1978 | Pages 30-40
Nuclear Safety Analysis | Energy Modeling and Forecasting / Reactor | doi.org/10.13182/NT78-A17005
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
To calculate the depressurization and flow-coast-down accidents in a 1000-MW gas-cooled fast reactor (GCFR) with a secondary steam cycle, the PHAETON2 computer code is used, the emphasis being placed on the solution of one-dimensional unstationary helium flows. The fluid dynamics equations are solved one by one by a combination of implicit and explicit methods, taking into account most of the terms of the original equations. In the case of the accidents considered, the shutdown system is always activated, and inherent actions only of the GCFR are allowed. The results show a necessity of backup pressures above 150 kPa for the depressurization accidents and a minimum circulator frequency of 5 Hz for the flow-coastdown accidents.