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Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Aerospace Nuclear Science & Technology
Organized to promote the advancement of knowledge in the use of nuclear science and technologies in the aerospace application. Specialized nuclear-based technologies and applications are needed to advance the state-of-the-art in aerospace design, engineering and operations to explore planetary bodies in our solar system and beyond, plus enhance the safety of air travel, especially high speed air travel. Areas of interest will include but are not limited to the creation of nuclear-based power and propulsion systems, multifunctional materials to protect humans and electronic components from atmospheric, space, and nuclear power system radiation, human factor strategies for the safety and reliable operation of nuclear power and propulsion plants by non-specialized personnel and more.
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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February 2025
Nuclear Technology
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Latest News
Feinstein Institutes to research novel radiation countermeasure
The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, home of the research institutes of New York’s Northwell Health, announced it has received a five-year, $2.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to investigate the potential of human ghrelin, a naturally occurring hormone, as a medical countermeasure against radiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome (GI-ARS).
Ark O. Ifeanyi, Daniel Dos Santos, Abhinav Saxena, Jamie Coble
Nuclear Technology | Volume 210 | Number 12 | December 2024 | Pages 2387-2403
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2024.2323260
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Control rods and elements manage the power distribution in nuclear reactors through the motion of banks of rods distributed throughout the core. These positional changes are achieved through the actuation of fine motion control rod drive (FMCRD) mechanisms. In the BWRX-300 design by GE-Hitachi, this mechanism is electrically driven by a servomotor that allows for high-precision control of power outputs. Under operational transients, such as load-following, accurate and precise operation of these servomotors is necessary over long periods of time, so they are key maintenance targets to maintain availability and operational flexibility. Swiftly and precisely identifying faults in the drive mechanisms will support predictive maintenance and reduced costs. This paper used three different types of simulated faults to test the fault detectability of principal component analysis (PCA) when considering the simulated operations of banks of control rods and their associated servomotors. These faults were stator short-circuit faults, ball screw jam faults, and ball screw wear faults. Torque and position were monitored in the simulation. The position signal was insufficient to detect mechanical faults. Torque signals for each servomotor in the bank of rods undergoing multiple position demand changes were projected to a reduced dimensional space via PCA. Q and T2 statistics were employed for anomaly detection. Using this approach, all faults were detected, and the anomalies were isolated to the faulty FMCRD mechanism.