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Division Spotlight
Young Members Group
The Young Members Group works to encourage and enable all young professional members to be actively involved in the efforts and endeavors of the Society at all levels (Professional Divisions, ANS Governance, Local Sections, etc.) as they transition from the role of a student to the role of a professional. It sponsors non-technical workshops and meetings that provide professional development and networking opportunities for young professionals, collaborates with other Divisions and Groups in developing technical and non-technical content for topical and national meetings, encourages its members to participate in the activities of the Groups and Divisions that are closely related to their professional interests as well as in their local sections, introduces young members to the rules and governance structure of the Society, and nominates young professionals for awards and leadership opportunities available to members.
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?
Gerald R. Mazetis, David D. Ebert
Nuclear Technology | Volume 67 | Number 3 | December 1984 | Pages 411-418
Technical Paper | Nuclear Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT84-A33498
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A method for nuclear power plant accident diagnostics using optimal control theory was investigated. A computer code, CAAD (Computer Assisted Accident Diagnostics), based on Pontryagin’s Principle, has been written and applied to single control malfunctions in nuclear power plants. Using a simplified systems model to represent power plant dynamics, the control theory in CAAD is expected to be suitable for expanding to more detailed systems applications. Results were obtained for a series of simulated plant transients that compare key state parameters to the control parameter output resulting from searches for the correct malfunction. A performance index is used as a convergence criterion upon which to define the degree of approach to the correct failure identification. The long-term goal of this methodology would be to expand to on-line computer application in reactor control rooms. Intended to be automatically initiated by a reactor accident, the malfunction search process would provide the operator with additional information to assist in identifying the most likely failure.
