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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
International Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering (M&C 2025)
April 27–30, 2025
Denver, CO|The Westin Denver Downtown
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
TerraPower begins U.K. regulatory approval process
Seattle-based TerraPower signaled its interest this week in building its Natrium small modular reactor in the United Kingdom, the company announced.
TerraPower sent a letter to the U.K.’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, formally establishing its intention to enter the U.K. generic design assessment (GDA) process. This is TerraPower’s first step in deployment of its Natrium technology—a 345-MW sodium fast reactor coupled with a molten salt energy storage unit—on the international stage.
Kazuhiko Kunitomi, Yukio Tachibana, Akio Saikusa, Kazuhiro Sawa, Lawrence M. Lidsky
Nuclear Technology | Volume 123 | Number 3 | September 1998 | Pages 245-258
Technical Paper | Reactor Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT98-A2896
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The severe-accident-free high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (SFHTR) is a prototype design for a next generation reactor. It is suitable for widespread deployment by virtue of its inherent safety features and very long refueling interval. Furthermore, its inherent safety features can be demonstrated by full-scale tests. Many of these features may be demonstrated in the High-Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR).The SFHTR is designed to have the probability of a severe accident at least two orders lower than existing systems. The fuel will not exceed its failure temperature even in the event of complete loss of coolant or complete withdrawal of two control rods. A unique configuration of burnable poisons allows a fuel cycle of 16 yr and a burnup exceeding 120 GWd/t. This feature promises very high availability and good economics.We have designed two SFHTR systems. The larger one, called the MSFHTR, has a 450- to 600-MW thermal capacity and is intended for the production of hydrogen and electricity. The smaller SFHTR (SSFHTR) is intended for remote areas, off the electrical grid, for simultaneous production of electricity and desalinated water. The SSFHTR can produce 23.5 MW(electric) plus 40 t/h of water with a net efficiency of 47%.The HTTR is capable of conducting full-scale simulation testing of key SFHTR design features in order to confirm and extend the designs and as a first step in convincing the public and the licensing authorities of the validity of demonstrable inherent safety. Design features of a 50-MW SFHTR focusing on the safety concept, safety evaluation, and core design are described. In addition, an HTTR-based test-and-development program for the SFHTR is presented.
