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Reactor Physics
The division's objectives are to promote the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the fundamental physical phenomena characterizing nuclear reactors and other nuclear systems. The division encourages research and disseminates information through meetings and publications. Areas of technical interest include nuclear data, particle interactions and transport, reactor and nuclear systems analysis, methods, design, validation and operating experience and standards. The Wigner Award heads the awards program.
Meeting Spotlight
International Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering (M&C 2025)
April 27–30, 2025
Denver, CO|The Westin Denver Downtown
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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Argonne’s METL gears up to test more sodium fast reactor components
Argonne National Laboratory has successfully swapped out an aging cold trap in the sodium test loop called METL (Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop), the Department of Energy announced April 23. The upgrade is the first of its kind in the United States in more than 30 years, according to the DOE, and will help test components and operations for the sodium-cooled fast reactors being developed now.
William C. McClain, A. L. Boch
Nuclear Technology | Volume 24 | Number 3 | December 1974 | Pages 398-408
Technical Paper | Radioactive Waste | doi.org/10.13182/NT74-A31503
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The considerations involved in the evaluation of the suitability of any geological formations for the disposal of radioactive wastes are illustrated by summarizing some of the studies performed in the southeastern New Mexico region on the bedded salt concept. These investigations fall into three main categories:1. Evaluation of the natural integrity of the formation. In addition to standard geological and hydrological studies, special investigations of the subsurface dissolutioning of the salt formation, the seismic stability of the region, and the possibility of previous mass flowage of the salt have been completed. These results will be confirmed by core drilling and testing currently in progress.2. Evaluation of the effects of the operation of a waste disposal facility on the geological characteristics of the area over the short term. These studies include prediction of the thermal transient resulting from the radioactive decay heat deposited in the rocks and its effects, such as the migration of brine inclusions up the thermal gradients and the dehydration of moisture-bearing minerals. Other studies in this category are concerned with the possibility and consequences of radiation-induced energy storage in the salt and prediction of the deformations to be expected around the openings excavated in the salt formations.3. Evaluation of the effects which the operation of a repository and other activities of man may have on the integrity of the geological containment over the long periods that the waste remains hazardous. The principal analyses in this category involve the long-term deformations of the rocks overlying the repository area (including the slow development of a subsidence basin at the ground surface) and the prevention of adverse conditions resulting from penetrations of the salt by exploratory drilling for oil and gas accumulations.