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.
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Mathematics & Computation
Division members promote the advancement of mathematical and computational methods for solving problems arising in all disciplines encompassed by the Society. They place particular emphasis on numerical techniques for efficient computer applications to aid in the dissemination, integration, and proper use of computer codes, including preparation of computational benchmark and development of standards for computing practices, and to encourage the development on new computer codes and broaden their use.
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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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.
R. W. Taylor
Nuclear Technology | Volume 18 | Number 2 | May 1973 | Pages 185-193
Technical Paper | A Review of Plutonium Utilization in Thermal Reactors / Nuclear Explosive | doi.org/10.13182/NT73-A31287
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Most of the energy of an underground nuclear explosion is deposited near the site of the explosion as heat. The heat remains localized for a long time because of the low thermal conductivity of rock. This heat plays a role in Plowshare applications by generating steam and, in the case of carbonate-bearing rocks, CO2. Applications to stimulate natural-gas production are complicated by the production of tritiated steam and CO2. The temperature of the rubble in the chimney fixes the steam partial pressure in the produced gas. Increasing chimney temperature, and thus steam pressure, is expected with increasing depth of explosion and also with decreasing spacing between detonations, in the case of multiple explosions. Laboratory experiments on shales that are mostly fine grain mixtures of quartz and carbonate show that CO2 is released at temperatures as low as 500°C, even under a CO2 pressure of 50 atm. In the future, the release of large amounts of CO2 may be used to advantage in secondary oil recovery and in the recovery of heavy crude oils, because of the great reduction in viscosity that results as CO2 dissolves in these oils. The nuclear chimney, with its large void volume, large surface area for catalysis, and high temperatures, is a potential high pressure vessel for chemical reaction.