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Division Spotlight
Fusion Energy
This division promotes the development and timely introduction of fusion energy as a sustainable energy source with favorable economic, environmental, and safety attributes. The division cooperates with other organizations on common issues of multidisciplinary fusion science and technology, conducts professional meetings, and disseminates technical information in support of these goals. Members focus on the assessment and resolution of critical developmental issues for practical fusion energy applications.
Meeting Spotlight
Utility Working Conference and Vendor Technology Expo (UWC 2024)
August 4–7, 2024
Marco Island, FL|JW Marriott Marco Island
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
Vogtle-3 shuts down for valve issue
One of the new Vogtle units in Georgia was shut down unexpectedly on Monday last week for a valve issue that has since been investigated and repaired. According to multiple local news outlets, Georgia Power reported on July 17 that Unit 3 was back in service.
Southern Company spokesperson Jacob Hawkins confirmed that Vogtle-3 went off line at 9:25 p.m. local time on July 8 “due to lowering water levels in the steam generators caused by a valve issue on one of the three main feedwater pumps.”
Enrique A. Biurrun
Nuclear Technology | Volume 121 | Number 2 | February 1998 | Pages 168-173
Technical Paper | German Direct Disposal Project | doi.org/10.13182/NT98-A2829
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
After closure of a repository, spent-fuel retrieval in a salt dome can be accomplished by either direct access by sinking boreholes or shafts directly into disposal areas or by indirect access by entering former disposal fields via a new retrieval mine. With state-of-the-art technology, salt mining can be carried out up to a rock temperature of 100°C. Calculations performed for a repository design suitable for the Gorleben salt dome show that 100 yr after disposal, large repository zones will be cooled down below 100°C. Thus, a significant part of the spent fuel in such a repository could be retrieved. A detailed study suggests that retrieval would be possible at any time after repository closure with presently available technology.Because of the massive effort and considerable time required for retrieval - which can be reliably discovered by surface monitoring, e.g., by remote satellite sensing - the diversion of fissile materials by secret retrieval is not a concern and is excluded.