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Division Spotlight
Isotopes & Radiation
Members are devoted to applying nuclear science and engineering technologies involving isotopes, radiation applications, and associated equipment in scientific research, development, and industrial processes. Their interests lie primarily in education, industrial uses, biology, medicine, and health physics. Division committees include Analytical Applications of Isotopes and Radiation, Biology and Medicine, Radiation Applications, Radiation Sources and Detection, and Thermal Power Sources.
Meeting Spotlight
Utility Working Conference and Vendor Technology Expo (UWC 2024)
August 4–7, 2024
Marco Island, FL|JW Marriott Marco Island
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
Oklo completes end-to-end demonstration of advanced fuel recycling
Oklo Inc. has announced that it has completed the first end-to-end demonstration of its advanced fuel recycling process as part of an ongoing $5 million project in collaboration with Argonne and Idaho National Laboratories. Oklo’s goal: scaling up its fuel recycling capabilities to deploy a commercial-scale recycling facility that would increase advanced reactor fuel supplies and enhance fuel cost effectiveness for its planned sodium fast reactors.
Thomas A. Buscheck, John J. Nitao, Dale G. Wilder
Nuclear Technology | Volume 104 | Number 3 | December 1993 | Pages 449-471
Technical Paper | Special Issue on Waste Management / Radioactive Waste Management | doi.org/10.13182/NT93-A34902
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In situ heater tests are needed to provide an understanding of coupled geomechanical-hydrothermal-geochemical behavior in the engineered and natural barriers under repository thermal loadings and to support the validation of related numerical and conceptual models. Hypothesis testing can help focus characterization, modeling, and testing activities required to support model validation and build robust site suitability and licensing arguments. In situ heater tests can address the following hypotheses: (a) repository-driven heat flow is dominated by heat conduction; (b) a region of above-boiling temperatures surrounding the repository corresponds to the absence of liquid water at the waste package environment; (c) fracture density and connectivity are sufficient to promote rock dryout due to boiling and condensate shedding; (d) rewetting of the dryout zone lags significantly behind the end of the boiling period; and (e) large-scale, buoyant, gas-phase convection may eventually dominate moisture movement in the unsaturated zone. Because of limited time, some of the in situ tests will have to be accelerated relative to actual thermal loading conditions. The trade-offs between the limited test duration and generating hydrothermal conditions applicable to repository performance during the entire thermal loading cycle are examined, including heating (boiling and dryout) and cooldown (rewetting). For in situ heater tests to be applicable to actual repository conditions, a minimum heater test duration of 6 to 7 yr (including 4 yr of full-power heating) is required. The parallel use of highly accelerated, shorter duration tests may also provide timely information for the license application.