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Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Nuclear Installations Safety
Devoted specifically to the safety of nuclear installations and the health and safety of the public, this division seeks a better understanding of the role of safety in the design, construction and operation of nuclear installation facilities. The division also promotes engineering and scientific technology advancement associated with the safety of such facilities.
Meeting Spotlight
Conference on Nuclear Training and Education: A Biennial International Forum (CONTE 2025)
February 3–6, 2025
Amelia Island, FL|Omni Amelia Island Resort
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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Nuclear Science and Engineering
February 2025
Nuclear Technology
January 2025
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Latest News
Reboot: Nuclear needs a success . . . anywhere
The media have gleefully resurrected the language of a past nuclear renaissance. Beyond the hype and PR, many people in the nuclear community are taking a more measured view of conditions that could lead to new construction: data center demand, the proliferation of new reactor designs and start-ups, and the sudden ascendance of nuclear energy as the power source everyone wants—or wants to talk about.
Once built, large nuclear reactors can provide clean power for at least 80 years—outlasting 10 to 20 presidential administrations. Smaller reactors can provide heat and power outputs tailored to an end user’s needs. With all the new attention, are we any closer to getting past persistent supply chain and workforce issues and building these new plants? And what will the election of Donald Trump to a second term as president mean for nuclear?
As usual, there are more questions than answers, and most come down to money. Several developers are engaging with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or have already applied for a license, certification, or permit. But designs without paying customers won’t get built. So where are the customers, and what will it take for them to commit?
Victor Teschendorff, Adly Barsoum Wahba
Nuclear Technology | Volume 31 | Number 3 | December 1976 | Pages 297-305
Technical Paper | Reactor | doi.org/10.13182/NT76-A31666
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Thermal interaction between molten fuel and coolant plays an important role in nuclear reactor safety. A molten fuel-coolant interaction model for water was developed and tested by calculating the propagation of pressure waves observed in some of the in-pile SPERT experiments. Pressure buildup in the interaction zone results from a high heat flux to the coolant, assuming direct contact for the initial phase. Both interaction and acceleration zones are modeled by the same set of equations that accounts for compressibility and inertia of the coolant. Phase changes of the water are controlled by a finite mass transfer rate. Calculations with this one-dimensional model BLAFCI show that particle size distribution and fragmentation time are the most sensitive parameters. Calculated peak pressures and some of the pressure time curves up to 10 msec agree well with the experimental data.
