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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
T. Sampat Sridhar
Nuclear Technology | Volume 85 | Number 3 | June 1989 | Pages 314-323
Technical Paper | Radioactive Waste Management | doi.org/10.13182/NT89-A34253
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program requires that research and development be carried out to establish the technology to treat and immobilize the high-level liquid waste (HLLW) that would arise in future Canada deuterium-uranium (CANDU) fuel recycle operations. A preindustrial scale facility called the Waste Immobilization Process Engineering facility has been designed and built at the Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment specifically for process evaluations and development studies. Since its installation and commissioning early in 1985, ten major campaigns have been performed with simulated HLLW solutions. A brief description of the facility is given, along with the results obtained in one of the campaigns. The overall performance of the facility has been very good with no major operational problems. The performance of the Roto-Spray Calciner has been excellent, and it has operated for a cumulative time of >10 000 h. The performance of the Joule melter has been equally good, except for some maintenance problems associated with the auxiliary heaters and components such as the solid feeders and off-gas lines. Being modular in design, the facility is amenable to testing flow sheet options and production of advanced waste forms at a future date with incorporation of alternative process modules.