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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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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?
Cl. Vandenberg, H. Bonet, A. Charlier, F. Motte
Nuclear Technology | Volume 46 | Number 3 | December 1979 | Pages 500-506
Technical Paper | Nuclear Power Reactor Safety / Reactor | doi.org/10.13182/NT79-A32358
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Within the framework of an experimental program on the behavior of gadolinium in light water reactors (LWRs), the BR3 power plant, a small 11-MW(electric) pressurized water reactor, was operated successfully with a core containing 5% Gd2O3-UO2 rods. The core reached an average burnup increase of 22 000 MWd/tM, corresponding to 500 effective full-power days in a single cycle. These results lead us to extrapolate the consequences on safety of extending such a control policy to large LWRs. In this context, the following factors were investigated: impact on the design, reactivity control and core behavior operated with lower and more constant boric acid concentration, environmental impact, fuel handling, etc. The results of this analysis suggest that studies on more elaborate models should be pursued and that the field of investigation should be broadened.
