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
Isotopes & Radiation
Members are devoted to applying nuclear science and engineering technologies involving isotopes, radiation applications, and associated equipment in scientific research, development, and industrial processes. Their interests lie primarily in education, industrial uses, biology, medicine, and health physics. Division committees include Analytical Applications of Isotopes and Radiation, Biology and Medicine, Radiation Applications, Radiation Sources and Detection, and Thermal Power Sources.
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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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.
B. Misra, J. H. Altseimer, G. D. Hart
Nuclear Technology | Volume 12 | Number 3 | November 1971 | Pages 298-306
Technical Paper | Aerospace | doi.org/10.13182/NT71-A31010
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Compared with chemical in-space rocket engines, the NERVA nuclear rocket engine presents several unique operational characteristics. This is particularly true in the post-shutdown phase called “pulse cooldown.” At this time liquid hydrogen coolant is tank-pressure fed, the tank being pressurized by gaseous hydrogen. At low reactor cooldown power levels the tank ullage gas can be used as the coolant. Thus, there exists the operational option of using either liquid or gaseous hydrogen for coolant; this can be used to eliminate tank venting and also to minimize fluid residual weight in the tank. For a typical four-burn lunar mission it was found that the proper combination of liquid and gaseous coolant fluids gained 27 000 Ibm or 18% in payload delivered to lunar orbit, compared to the case when only liquid hydrogen was used for reactor cooldown. In addition, an increased flexibility of flight operations is indicated because tank conditions can be adjusted enroute by choice of the cooldown fluid modes.