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
Nuclear Installations Safety
Devoted specifically to the safety of nuclear installations and the health and safety of the public, this division seeks a better understanding of the role of safety in the design, construction and operation of nuclear installation facilities. The division also promotes engineering and scientific technology advancement associated with the safety of such facilities.
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!
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2024
Jan 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
August 2024
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Vogtle-3 shuts down for valve issue
One of the new Vogtle units in Georgia was shut down unexpectedly on Monday last week for a valve issue that has since been investigated and repaired. According to multiple local news outlets, Georgia Power reported on July 17 that Unit 3 was back in service.
Southern Company spokesperson Jacob Hawkins confirmed that Vogtle-3 went off line at 9:25 p.m. local time on July 8 “due to lowering water levels in the steam generators caused by a valve issue on one of the three main feedwater pumps.”
Eduardo Gallego, Alfredo Lorente, Héctor René Vega-Carrillo
Nuclear Technology | Volume 168 | Number 2 | November 2009 | Pages 399-404
Shielding | Special Issue on the 11th International Conference on Radiation Shielding and the 15th Topical Meeting of the Radiation Protection and Shielding Division (Part 2) / Radiation Protection | doi.org/10.13182/NT09-A9216
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
We present the testing of a high-density magnetite concrete [commercially available under the name Hormirad™, developed by the Spanish company Construcciones Tecnicas de Radioterapia, S.L. (CT-RAD)] as neutron shielding material. The purpose of this work was to characterize the material behavior against neutrons, as well as to test different mixings including boron compounds in an effort to improve neutron shielding efficiency. Hormirad™ slabs of different thicknesses were exposed to a 241Am-Be neutron source under controlled conditions. The original mix, which includes a high fraction of magnetite, was then modified by adding different proportions of anhydrous borax (Na2B4O7). Looking for a comparison, the same experiment was repeated with slabs of ordinary concrete (HA-25) used to shield medical accelerator facilities. In parallel to the experiments, Monte Carlo calculations were performed with MCNP5, with some differences found with regard to the experiments, attributable to uncertainties in the elemental composition of the samples tested. Tenth-value layers have been determined for the different types of concrete tested for the 241Am-Be neutron source. The results show an advantageous behavior of the Hormirad™ when comparing it with ordinary concrete. Although borated concretes show a small improvement in neutron attenuation when they are compared with Hormirad™ alone, the resulting reduction in density and structural properties makes them less practical.