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Materials Science & Technology
The objectives of MSTD are: promote the advancement of materials science in Nuclear Science Technology; support the multidisciplines which constitute it; encourage research by providing a forum for the presentation, exchange, and documentation of relevant information; promote the interaction and communication among its members; and recognize and reward its members for significant contributions to the field of materials science in nuclear technology.
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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.”
Gian Luigi Fiorini, Guy Marie Gautier, Yves Bergamaschi
Nuclear Technology | Volume 127 | Number 3 | September 1999 | Pages 239-258
Technical Paper | Fission Reactors | doi.org/10.13182/NT99-A2999
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A consistent study was conducted on the total or partial elimination of soluble boron within the framework of the French Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique/Nuclear Reactor Directorate/Innovation Program. Three options were studied: maintaining the soluble boron during cold shutdown; soluble boron only for accident conditions; total elimination of soluble boron. The approach used to identify the motivations that guided the studies on soluble boron reduction or elimination is summarized, and the essential results are presented.After a brief presentation of the objectives of these studies and of the results available in the literature, we comment on the safety means in use (for present reactors) as well as the options, of generic nature, which lead to increased safety in future reactors. The implications linked to the use of soluble boron in the coolant are described. The consequences for the reactor are briefly analyzed in terms of demands for reactivity control reinforcement and for the implementation of a functional redundancy.The modifications in the architecture of elementary systems are briefly examined. The systems affected by soluble boron are identified as are the solutions envisaged for the three options. The influence of the control mode, without soluble boron, on the design of the plant is mentioned. The orientations in the design of new mechanisms to minimize the risks associated with rod ejection are also considered.For the moment, only neutronic quantitative assessment has been achieved. Detailed and quantitative studies have not yet been performed on technological issues. The objective of this work is mainly to indicate the current motivations and to generate discussion and debate on the boron-free option.