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
Materials Science & Technology
The objectives of MSTD are: promote the advancement of materials science in Nuclear Science Technology; support the multidisciplines which constitute it; encourage research by providing a forum for the presentation, exchange, and documentation of relevant information; promote the interaction and communication among its members; and recognize and reward its members for significant contributions to the field of materials science in nuclear technology.
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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Christmas Night
Twas the night before Christmas when all through the houseNo electrons were flowing through even my mouse.
All devices were plugged in by the chimney with careWith the hope that St. Nikola Tesla would share.
Dylan R. Harp, Philip H. Stauffer, Phoolendra K. Mishra, Daniel G. Levitt, Bruce A. Robinson
Nuclear Technology | Volume 187 | Number 3 | September 2014 | Pages 294-307
Technical Paper | Thermal Hydraulics | doi.org/10.13182/NT13-110
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Salt formations have received recent attention for geologic disposal of heat-generating, high-level nuclear waste (HLW). Existing investigations are summarized and expanded upon using analytical and numerical models to investigate simulated temperatures in the salt after emplacement of HLW. Analytical modeling suggests that temperature variations near canisters will be smooth, indicating that the system can be approximated by a coarsely discretized numerical model. Two multidimensional parameter studies explore canister configuration using characteristics from (a) defense HLW and (b) spent nuclear fuel (SNF) waste. Numerical modeling was conducted for a disposal concept consisting of emplacement of waste canisters on the floor of drifts and covering each with salt backfill. Results indicate that waste forms with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) waste characteristics can be easily configured to maintain simulated temperatures far below 200°C at spacings as close as 0.3 m (∼1 ft), the minimum feasible spacing that could practically be achieved. For SNF waste packaged into canisters with heat loads of 1500 or 1000 W with canister spacing of 6 m (∼20 ft) and 3 m (∼10 ft), respectively, simulated temperatures can be maintained below 200°C; much higher maximum temperatures would result for designs with higher canister heat loads and smaller spacings. These results indicate that from a thermal loading perspective, in-drift disposal of HLW in salt deposits is feasible for DOE-managed waste as long as the maximum temperature is managed through proper selection of canister heat loads and spacings. The results will aid in the design of potential future field tests to confirm this conclusion.