ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Operations & Power
Members focus on the dissemination of knowledge and information in the area of power reactors with particular application to the production of electric power and process heat. The division sponsors meetings on the coverage of applied nuclear science and engineering as related to power plants, non-power reactors, and other nuclear facilities. It encourages and assists with the dissemination of knowledge pertinent to the safe and efficient operation of nuclear facilities through professional staff development, information exchange, and supporting the generation of viable solutions to current issues.
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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Nuclear Science and Engineering
August 2024
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
BWXT will scout potential TRISO fuel production sites in Wyoming
BWX Technologies Inc. announced today that its Advanced Technologies subsidiary has signed a cooperation agreement with the state of Wyoming to evaluate locations and requirements for siting a potential new TRISO nuclear fuel fabrication facility in the state.
J. Darvas, U. Hansen, E. Teuchert
Nuclear Technology | Volume 8 | Number 6 | June 1970 | Pages 496-506
Fuel | doi.org/10.13182/NT70-A28649
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The use of Pu as a makeup fuel in D2O-moderated thorium converters is investigated. The reactor starts with plutonium, the bred 233U is reprocessed and fed back into the system. During reactor life there is a considerable change in fissile composition. The physics calculations follow the reactor through the whole running in period from the first core into a quasi-equilibrium state. For this type of system, the running in period makes an important contribution to the overall merits of the reactor. The physics of the Pu burner is compared in detail to a similar reactor using 235U as makeup fuel. The evaluation of fuel-cycle costs is performed with present worth methods, calculating quasi-equilibrium costs and average fuel-cycle costs for the reactor lifetime, running in period included. Thorium systems, starting and running with plutonium makeup, have to pay rather high penalties for the first refueling periods. The Pu value is estimated to be in the range of $9/g fissile.