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Division Spotlight
Thermal Hydraulics
The division provides a forum for focused technical dialogue on thermal hydraulic technology in the nuclear industry. Specifically, this will include heat transfer and fluid mechanics involved in the utilization of nuclear energy. It is intended to attract the highest quality of theoretical and experimental work to ANS, including research on basic phenomena and application to nuclear system design.
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.
L. D. Philipp, N. C. Hoitink, W. G. Spear, M. R. Wood
Nuclear Technology | Volume 20 | Number 1 | October 1973 | Pages 51-59
Technical Paper | Instrument | doi.org/10.13182/NT73-A31333
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Electron drift velocity, a function of gas composition, electric field, and pressure, represents the most important design parameter for optimization of fission-counter collection time. References in the literature provide a significant source of information on drift velocities for various gases, but the information does not extend to sufficiently high electric field/pressure (E/p) ratios for use with the high-sensitivity fission counters under consideration. The data obtained for this investigation and reported here extend the drift-velocity data for argon-nitrogen mixtures to E/p regions useful for present design considerations, and at the same time compare detector performance in a high gamma field (106 R/h) with the various gas mixtures employed. Six combinations of argon-nitrogen ranging from 1 to 15% nitrogen were included in the tests. Although several other gas mixtures, such as argon-methane and argon-CO2, provide faster drift velocities, only argon-nitrogen has proven stable at the high neutron exposure levels anticipated for the Fast Flux Test Facility (1018 n/cm2). Performance comparisons show that for 800-Vdc operation the neutron counting sensitivity for Ar - 10% N2 exceeds that for Ar - 1% N2 (the fill gas most commonly used) by over a factor of 2. Corresponding collection times decreased from 160 nsec for the Ar - 1% N2 mixture to 80 nsec for the Ar - 10% N2 combination. For specific applications, it may be required to limit the voltage to <800 Vdc. The curves provide information to permit selection of the best gas mixture for a given bias voltage requirement.