ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
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Division Spotlight
Thermal Hydraulics
The division provides a forum for focused technical dialogue on thermal hydraulic technology in the nuclear industry. Specifically, this will include heat transfer and fluid mechanics involved in the utilization of nuclear energy. It is intended to attract the highest quality of theoretical and experimental work to ANS, including research on basic phenomena and application to nuclear system design.
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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Latest News
TerraPower begins U.K. regulatory approval process
Seattle-based TerraPower signaled its interest this week in building its Natrium small modular reactor in the United Kingdom, the company announced.
TerraPower sent a letter to the U.K.’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, formally establishing its intention to enter the U.K. generic design assessment (GDA) process. This is TerraPower’s first step in deployment of its Natrium technology—a 345-MW sodium fast reactor coupled with a molten salt energy storage unit—on the international stage.
Ronald F. Kulak
Nuclear Technology | Volume 51 | Number 3 | December 1980 | Pages 414-420
Technical Paper | Mechanics Applications to Fast Breeder Reactor Safety / Reactor | doi.org/10.13182/NT80-A32577
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
This paper assesses the structural dynamics of the deck structure and the resulting loading on the deck supports of a pool-type liquid-metal fast breeder reactor during a hypothetical core disruptive accident. During this hypothetical accident. the sodium above the core is considered to be propelled upward until it impacts against the deck structure. This hydrodynamic loading could produce structural damage and sodium leak paths. The deck is a three-dimensional composite structure of beams, plates, and concrete fill. It is supported at its outer periphery by the surrounding concrete foundation. The deck provides top closure of the main tank and support for the intermediate heat exchangers, primary pumps, rotating plugs, and primary and secondary tanks. A finite element model is used to study the deck dynamics during slug impact. The structural stiffening effect of the concrete fill is assessed, and results are given for deck displacement and velocity histories and deck support column reaction forces.