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Division Spotlight
Aerospace Nuclear Science & Technology
Organized to promote the advancement of knowledge in the use of nuclear science and technologies in the aerospace application. Specialized nuclear-based technologies and applications are needed to advance the state-of-the-art in aerospace design, engineering and operations to explore planetary bodies in our solar system and beyond, plus enhance the safety of air travel, especially high speed air travel. Areas of interest will include but are not limited to the creation of nuclear-based power and propulsion systems, multifunctional materials to protect humans and electronic components from atmospheric, space, and nuclear power system radiation, human factor strategies for the safety and reliable operation of nuclear power and propulsion plants by non-specialized personnel and more.
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.
Paul C. S. Wu
Nuclear Technology | Volume 39 | Number 1 | June 1978 | Pages 84-94
Nuclear Safety Analysis | Energy Modeling and Forecasting / Material | doi.org/10.13182/NT78-A17010
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The physical and nuclear properties of EU2O3 were reviewed, evaluated, and compared with those of the other potential control materials for breeder reactors. Europia with a 90% theoretical density has approximately the same amount of europium atoms per unit volume as the pure metal. Consequently, the reactivity worth per unit volume of Eu2O3 is similar to that of pure metal. In addition, the reactivity of EU2O3 is superior to tantalum and is comparable to natural B4C. The decay heat of Eu2O3 is much lower than that of tantalum over the range of decay times that is of interest with respect to handling. Irradiation-induced swelling of EU2O3 is lower than that of B4C, and postirradiation examination revealed only ∼1% dimensional changes in the thermal- and/or fast-neutron spectrum (8 × 1025 n/m2). Although surface reaction between EU2O3 and the fast test reactor reference cladding Type 316 stainless steel leads to the formation of a europium silicate, it is expected that Eu2O3 would be compatible with low-silicon Type 316 stainless steel. In addition, the Eu2O3-sodium system was also shown to be compatible under simulated liquid-metal fast breeder reactor conditions without significant change. Consequently, Eu2O3 is an excellent alternate candidate compared to B4C as the neutron absorber for fast breeder reactors.
