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Division Spotlight
Fusion Energy
This division promotes the development and timely introduction of fusion energy as a sustainable energy source with favorable economic, environmental, and safety attributes. The division cooperates with other organizations on common issues of multidisciplinary fusion science and technology, conducts professional meetings, and disseminates technical information in support of these goals. Members focus on the assessment and resolution of critical developmental issues for practical fusion energy applications.
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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Nuclear Science and Engineering
August 2024
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
ARPA-E announces $40 million to develop transmutation technologies for UNF
The Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) announced $40 million in funding to develop cutting-edge technologies to enable the transmutation of used nuclear fuel into less-radioactive substances. According to ARPA-E, the new initiative addresses one of the agency’s core goals as outlined by Congress: to provide transformative solutions to improve the management, cleanup, and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.
Vikram Singh, Matthew R. Lish, Alexander M. Wheeler, Ondřej Chvála, Belle R. Upadhyaya
Nuclear Technology | Volume 202 | Number 1 | April 2018 | Pages 15-38
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2017.1416879
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A nonlinear dynamic model for the two-fluid molten-salt breeder reactor (MSBR) system is presented. This work is partly inspired by a preliminary dynamic model of the concept studied at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The core heat transfer model has been revised to accurately reflect the design exemplified in ORNL-4528—the last report on the two-fluid design. A brief description of the reactor system and the effects of reactor poisons and a discussion of temperature feedback mechanisms are presented. This background information is followed by an overview of the modeling approach and a discussion of the revised lumped parametrization, along with detailed descriptions of the modeling methodology and model limitations. All equations and parameters used in the model are presented to aid in model reproduction and adaptation for other molten-salt reactor designs. Model stability is analyzed by observing the uncontrolled response to reactivity perturbations. Simulations illustrate stable behavior at all power levels investigated. Temperature-induced feedback effects lead to stable dynamics for both large and small reactivity transients. Stable and smooth changes in the various nodal temperatures are also observed. The frequency response of the system indicates no dynamics problems at all operating power levels and is consistent with the transient response. Characteristic features in the frequency response plots due to feedback effects are also discussed. Finally, the load-following capability of the MSBR system is studied for various ramp rates of the power demand in the final heat sink. The temperatures in all salt-containing parts of the system are observed to vary about an average during the load-following maneuver. It is observed that the MSBR system exhibits a self-regulating behavior, minimizing the need for external controller action for load-following operations.