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Reactor Physics
The division's objectives are to promote the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the fundamental physical phenomena characterizing nuclear reactors and other nuclear systems. The division encourages research and disseminates information through meetings and publications. Areas of technical interest include nuclear data, particle interactions and transport, reactor and nuclear systems analysis, methods, design, validation and operating experience and standards. The Wigner Award heads the awards program.
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ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
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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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First astatine-labeled compound shipped in the U.S.
The Department of Energy’s National Isotope Development Center (NIDC) on March 31 announced the successful long-distance shipment in the United States of a biologically active compound labeled with the medical radioisotope astatine-211 (At-211). Because previous shipments have included only the “bare” isotope, the NIDC has described the development as “unleashing medical innovation.”
J. Cruz-Castro, L. H. Hernández-Gómez, Y. López-Grijalba, E. Hernández-Palafox, J. A. Beltrán-Fernández, J. I. E. Palacios-Hernández, I. A. Alarcón-Sánchez
Nuclear Technology | Volume 211 | Number 2 | February 2025 | Pages 185-199
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2024.2323239
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In this paper, the fluid-solid interaction of a jet pump of a boiling water reactor type 5 (BWR/5), with its riser subjected to a leakage flow through its slip joint, is reported. This is a fluid-elastic instability problem. A methodology is proposed for the evaluation of the velocity of the fluid at the slip joint with and without a labyrinth seal. It is calculated with computational fluid dynamics. The results show that such a seal reduces the velocity of the fluid and produces a stable and linear behavior between the inlet and the outlet fluid velocities at the slip joint. Then the first five natural frequencies of the jet pump assembly are evaluated. The range is between 24.74 Hz and 60.21 Hz. The mass of water inside and outside of such an assembly is considered. With these data and the dimensions of the slip joint, a finite element mesh is developed and the time step (∆t = 0.001 s) is determined. The fluid and structure mesh are coupled. The fluid flow through the slip joint without a labyrinth seal is evaluated with a two-way fluid-structure interaction under normal conditions of operation. Accelerations up to 8 g can be developed at the bottom of the mixer.
The fluid flow is estimated during the first 0.25 s. Flow-induced vibration can be exacerbated in resonance conditions. These values are similar to those obtained in the experimental analyses reported in the open literature. One of the excitation frequencies caused by the interaction between the fluid and the structure was close to the third natural frequency of this assembly (46.99 Hz). If the integrity of the labyrinth seal is maintained, the jet pump will not present high-amplitude oscillations. Therefore, an adequate management of seal degradation is required and failures of the jet pump can be avoided.