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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
G. Oliva, G. Palmiotti, M. Salvatores, L. Tondinelli
Nuclear Technology | Volume 37 | Number 3 | March 1978 | Pages 340-352
Technical paper | Fuel | doi.org/10.13182/NT78-A31999
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The elimination of transuranium (TRU) elements by neutron absorption has been investigated in an actual power liquid-metal fast breeder reactor (LMFBR) (of the Superphenix type). Special fuel elements containing TRU oxides were considered in different core locations. The effects on design parameters have also been evaluated. The results show that the advantages of TRU elimination by means of LMFBRs, compared with using a thermal reactor, consist mainly of the small perturbation of the integral properties and design parameters of the reactor for the large amount of TRU that can be introduced. However, from the point of view of the TRU transmutation reaction rates, thermal reactors seem to be better. The choice of a compromise between the variation of design parameters and the TRU amount to be transmutated depends on the actual reactor design.