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
Nuclear Installations Safety
Devoted specifically to the safety of nuclear installations and the health and safety of the public, this division seeks a better understanding of the role of safety in the design, construction and operation of nuclear installation facilities. The division also promotes engineering and scientific technology advancement associated with the safety of such facilities.
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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Latest News
Article considers incorporation of AI into nuclear power plant operations
The potential application of artificial intelligence to the operation of nuclear power plants is explored in an article published in late December in the Washington Examiner. The article, written by energy and environment reporter Callie Patteson, presents the views of a number of experts, including Yavuz Arik, a strategic energy consultant.
Alvin Radkowsky, Alex Galperin
Nuclear Technology | Volume 124 | Number 3 | December 1998 | Pages 215-222
Technical Paper | Fuel Cycle and Management | doi.org/10.13182/NT98-A2921
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The nonproliferative light water thorium technology, also known as RTF (Radkowsky thorium fuel), provides a new approach to light water reactor core design. An RTF core is completely nonproliferative for all practical purposes, provides major reductions in radwaste, reduces fuel cycle cost and consumption of natural uranium, does not require soluble boron control during operation, and is once-through (i.e., does not require reprocessing). The core is made up of multiple seed-blanket units with uranium-zirconium alloy in the seed regions and thorium oxide with ~10% uranium oxide in the blanket regions. A key advantage is that an RTF core has exactly the same control drives and support plates. An RTF core with plutonium substituted for uranium is also optimum for incinerating either weapons- or reactor-grade plutonium, burning at three times the rate obtainable with mixed oxide (MOX). Use of MOX also requires considerable core modifications and produces 60% new plutonium, while RTF core produces none.