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Division Spotlight
Accelerator Applications
The division was organized to promote the advancement of knowledge of the use of particle accelerator technologies for nuclear and other applications. It focuses on production of neutrons and other particles, utilization of these particles for scientific or industrial purposes, such as the production or destruction of radionuclides significant to energy, medicine, defense or other endeavors, as well as imaging and diagnostics.
Meeting Spotlight
Conference on Nuclear Training and Education: A Biennial International Forum (CONTE 2025)
February 3–6, 2025
Amelia Island, FL|Omni Amelia Island Resort
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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Nuclear Science and Engineering
February 2025
Nuclear Technology
January 2025
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Latest News
Reboot: Nuclear needs a success . . . anywhere
The media have gleefully resurrected the language of a past nuclear renaissance. Beyond the hype and PR, many people in the nuclear community are taking a more measured view of conditions that could lead to new construction: data center demand, the proliferation of new reactor designs and start-ups, and the sudden ascendance of nuclear energy as the power source everyone wants—or wants to talk about.
Once built, large nuclear reactors can provide clean power for at least 80 years—outlasting 10 to 20 presidential administrations. Smaller reactors can provide heat and power outputs tailored to an end user’s needs. With all the new attention, are we any closer to getting past persistent supply chain and workforce issues and building these new plants? And what will the election of Donald Trump to a second term as president mean for nuclear?
As usual, there are more questions than answers, and most come down to money. Several developers are engaging with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or have already applied for a license, certification, or permit. But designs without paying customers won’t get built. So where are the customers, and what will it take for them to commit?
Kurt Goldmann, John M. Mckee
Nuclear Technology | Volume 6 | Number 4 | April 1969 | Pages 321-331
Technical Papers and Note | doi.org/10.13182/NT69-A28340
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Liquid potassium was circulated between 1200 and 1600°F in 31 Type-316 stainless-steel thermal convection loops and one forced circulation loop. Each loop contained a string of niobium-1% zirconium (Nb-1% Zr) alloy and stainless-steel test specimens positioned along the entire heated leg. To follow corrosion as a function of time and temperature, the test specimens were examined at 500 to 2500 h intervals. Controlled additions of interstitial impurities to the potassium were made in some thermal convection loops at the start of the test. Oxygen additions to the potassium sharply accelerated the initial rate of Nb-1% Zr surface removal but produced no identifiable oxide film or microstructural changes. The initially high weight-loss rates, observed in oxygen addition loops, decayed rapidly with time, returning essentially to normal rates (in the absence of further oxygen additions) after 2500 h. Oxygen additions produced very little effect on the stainless-steel corrosion rates, presumably due to rapid gettering of the added oxygen by the Nb-1% Zr. Similar tests in a forced circulation loop, with potassium velocities past the test specimens 18 times higher than in the thermal convection loops, showed that any effects of velocity on the Nb-1% Zr corrosion rate were far overshadowed by effects that are assumed to be related to oxygen in the potassium.