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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.
Howard F. Bauman, Paul R. Kasten
Nuclear Technology | Volume 2 | Number 4 | August 1966 | Pages 287-293
Technical Paper and Note | doi.org/10.13182/NT66-A27518
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Thermal- and intermediate-energy molten-salt breeder reactors appear capable of fuel doubling times less than 20 years and fuel-cycle costs under 0.4 mill/kWh. These reactors are fueled with circulating molten salts consisting of the fluorides of thorium, uranium, lithium, and beryllium. Three reactor concepts were analyzed; the first two were graphite-moderated thermal breeders. In the first of these, the fissile and fertile materials were kept separated by graphite tubes in the core; in the second, the fissile and fertile materials were included in a single salt stream. In the third concept, an intermediate-energy breeder, the core was an unmoderated salt containing both fissile and fertile materials. The reactors were optimized for minimum fuel-cycle cost and maximum annual fuel yield. The results showed that each concept was capable of a low fuel-cycle cost and a short doubling time; however, the major development problems are different for each concept.