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Division Spotlight
Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy
The mission of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy Division (NNPD) is to promote the peaceful use of nuclear technology while simultaneously preventing the diversion and misuse of nuclear material and technology through appropriate safeguards and security, and promotion of nuclear nonproliferation policies. To achieve this mission, the objectives of the NNPD are to: Promote policy that discourages the proliferation of nuclear technology and material to inappropriate entities. Provide information to ANS members, the technical community at large, opinion leaders, and decision makers to improve their understanding of nuclear nonproliferation issues. Become a recognized technical resource on nuclear nonproliferation, safeguards, and security issues. Serve as the integration and coordination body for nuclear nonproliferation activities for the ANS. Work cooperatively with other ANS divisions to achieve these objective nonproliferation policies.
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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Reboot: Nuclear needs a success . . . anywhere
The media have gleefully resurrected the language of a past nuclear renaissance. Beyond the hype and PR, many people in the nuclear community are taking a more measured view of conditions that could lead to new construction: data center demand, the proliferation of new reactor designs and start-ups, and the sudden ascendance of nuclear energy as the power source everyone wants—or wants to talk about.
Once built, large nuclear reactors can provide clean power for at least 80 years—outlasting 10 to 20 presidential administrations. Smaller reactors can provide heat and power outputs tailored to an end user’s needs. With all the new attention, are we any closer to getting past persistent supply chain and workforce issues and building these new plants? And what will the election of Donald Trump to a second term as president mean for nuclear?
As usual, there are more questions than answers, and most come down to money. Several developers are engaging with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or have already applied for a license, certification, or permit. But designs without paying customers won’t get built. So where are the customers, and what will it take for them to commit?
W. J. Penn, R. K. Lo, J. C. Wood
Nuclear Technology | Volume 34 | Number 2 | July 1977 | Pages 249-268
Technical Paper | Fuel | doi.org/10.13182/NT77-A39701
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Extensive fuel performance data obtained from Canadian Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) power reactors and experimental reactors are analyzed. Various modes of power ramping that cause fuel defects are identified, and fuel defect criteria are derived. The probability of a defect occurring in a power ramp is found to depend on the magnitude of the ramped power, the power increase, the fuel burnup, and the time fuel dwells at the ramped power. The fuel defect rate in CANDU power reactors based on the last 10 years of operation and due to all causes has been only 0.27%. The understanding gained through the development of the CANDU power ramp defect criteria has caused the defect rate to decrease progressively. Physical interpretations are offered in terms of mechanisms believed to account for power ramp defects. The dominant mechanism is considered to be stress corrosion cracking of the Zircaloy clad, induced by the release of such fission products as iodine from the fuel.
