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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.
J. T. A. Roberts, B. J. Wrona, D. Fischer, J. A. Buzzell
Nuclear Technology | Volume 27 | Number 2 | October 1975 | Pages 267-272
Technical Paper | Fuel | doi.org/10.13182/NT75-A24294
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Modifications to the direct electrical heating apparatus have enabled it to be used successfully to heat irradiated mixed-oxide fuel pellets to melting in an α-γ hot cell. For this purpose, a fuel extrusion device was constructed to remove irradiated fuel from its cladding. Proof-testing was successfully conducted using two UO2-20 wt% PuO2 pellets irradiated in the Experimental Breeder Reactor II to 3.25 at.% burnup at ∼ 3.05 kW/m (∼10 kW/ft). The sequence of events leading to fuel failure—namely, melting, swelling, and fragmentation—agree with observations from inreactor accident simulations.
