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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
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.
Peter Royl, Barry D. Ganapol, Charles R. Bell
Nuclear Technology | Volume 71 | Number 1 | October 1985 | Pages 145-161
Technical Paper | Nuclear Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT85-A33716
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The potential for fuel removal through the inner blanket intersubassembly gaps before the formation of interconnected pools of fuel and steel has been investigated for the Clinch River Breeder Reactor heterogeneous core under conditions of an unprotected loss of flow accident. The relevant physical phenomena were simulated with the SIMMER-II accident analysis code with the necessary model adaptations identified. A base case has only been set up for the four inner sub-assembly rings. Based on the understanding gained from this case and an evaluation of a sensitivity study, combined variations for an enhancement of fuel removal are examined. For low flow resistance in the gap, sustained pressurization in the driver assemblies, and delayed blanket gap wall failure, a substantial amount of fuel can be removed from the active core through the inner blanket gaps. The analyzed problem is closely related to the thermal propagation issue.