ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Operations & Power
Members focus on the dissemination of knowledge and information in the area of power reactors with particular application to the production of electric power and process heat. The division sponsors meetings on the coverage of applied nuclear science and engineering as related to power plants, non-power reactors, and other nuclear facilities. It encourages and assists with the dissemination of knowledge pertinent to the safe and efficient operation of nuclear facilities through professional staff development, information exchange, and supporting the generation of viable solutions to current issues.
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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Latest News
Article considers incorporation of AI into nuclear power plant operations
The potential application of artificial intelligence to the operation of nuclear power plants is explored in an article published in late December in the Washington Examiner. The article, written by energy and environment reporter Callie Patteson, presents the views of a number of experts, including Yavuz Arik, a strategic energy consultant.
Toshio Wakabayashi, Katsuro Takahashi, Tsutomu Yanagisawa
Nuclear Technology | Volume 118 | Number 1 | April 1997 | Pages 14-25
Technical Paper | Kiyose Birthday Anniversary Special / Nuclear Fuel Cycle | doi.org/10.13182/NT118-14
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Systematic parameter studies were implemented to investigate the basic characteristics [plutonium and minor actinide (MA)-burning rate, burnup reactivity loss, Doppler coefficient, sodium void reactivity, maximum linear heat rate, etc.] of plutonium and MA-burning fast reactors and also to clarify the feasibility of such plutonium and MA burner fast reactors. Highly enriched mixed-oxide (MOX) fuels and plutonium fuels without uranium were consideredfor plutonium-burning enhancement. It was found that plutonium consumption rates essentially depend on plutonium enrichment. Both burnup reactivity loss and Doppler coefficient are important criteria for highly enriched MOX fuel cores. Cores without uranium were found to consume the plutonium at a very large burnup rate close to the theoretically maximum value of 110 to 120 kg/TW · h(electric). The introduction of UO2 in an internal blanket is effective in enhancing the Doppler coefficient; it causes a minor increase in the sodium void reactivity in nonuranium cores. The MA transmutation in a fast reactor core has no serious drawbacks in terms of core performance, provided that the homogeneous loading method can be employed with a small fraction of MA fuel (∼5 wt%). Fast reactors have a strong potential for burning plutonium and MA effectively.