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Division Spotlight
Reactor Physics
The division's objectives are to promote the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the fundamental physical phenomena characterizing nuclear reactors and other nuclear systems. The division encourages research and disseminates information through meetings and publications. Areas of technical interest include nuclear data, particle interactions and transport, reactor and nuclear systems analysis, methods, design, validation and operating experience and standards. The Wigner Award heads the awards program.
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
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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?
Klaus Penndorf, Frank Schult, Dietrich BüNemann
Nuclear Technology | Volume 59 | Number 2 | November 1982 | Pages 256-269
Technical Paper | Fuel Cycle | doi.org/10.13182/NT82-A33029
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Maximum conversion ratios of Pu/U mixtures in a pressurized water reactor (PWR)-like open rod lattice core are assessed complying with established data of thermal design, allowing for agreeable discharge burnup values, and utilizing plutonium from PWRs with present time fuel management or with that expected for the near future. Void reactivity, temperature coefficients, and control rod requirements are discussed with respect to their compatibility with the usual PWR design principles. While the temperature coefficients show a completely satisfying behavior, the core control requirements lead to design inconveniences, which nevertheless can be overcome. A crucial constraint, however, is the void reactivity, which limits the specific plutonium content. From the economical point of view, high conversion fuel cycles are penalized by high fissile inventories but promoted by low net consumption of fissile material as well as by low specific reprocessing expenditures.
