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Division Spotlight
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
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
Fusion Science and Technology
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?
Robert W. Conn, Kevin Okula, A. Wayne Johnson
Nuclear Technology | Volume 41 | Number 3 | December 1978 | Pages 389-400
Technical Paper | Material | doi.org/10.13182/NT78-A32123
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The levels of induced radioactivity in fusion devices can be controlled by appropriate selection of elements in a structural alloy and, in principle, by the selection of specific isotopes of a particular element. Three general rules are developed by which long-term induced radioactivity can be minimized. These rules are then applied to two specific alloy systems-stainless steels and the molybdenum alloy, TZM. A particular steel, Tenelon, containing neither nickel nor molybdenum, is especially attractive. It is found that the principles of both elemental substitution and isotopic tailoring can reduce the long-term radioactivity levels by orders of magnitude compared to normal Type 316 stainless steel. A comparison of long-term activity levels in such systems as the liquid-metal fast breeder reactor, fusion with standard structural alloys, and fusion with steel alloys designed for low activity quantitatively shows the potential advantage of fusion in this area. The influence of iso topic tailoring on gas production rates is also discussed. The calculations on radioactivity indicate that with proper attention to the choice of materials and isotopes, long-term radioactivity in fusion devices can be made so low as to either eliminate concern over long-term storage or allow recycling within a few human generations.