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Division Spotlight
Thermal Hydraulics
The division provides a forum for focused technical dialogue on thermal hydraulic technology in the nuclear industry. Specifically, this will include heat transfer and fluid mechanics involved in the utilization of nuclear energy. It is intended to attract the highest quality of theoretical and experimental work to ANS, including research on basic phenomena and application to nuclear system design.
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
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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.”
Phuong Hoai Linh Doan (CEA), Thierry Duquesnoy (Paris Saclay Univ)
Proceedings | 16th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference (IHLRWM 2017) | Charlotte, NC, April 9-13, 2017 | Pages 4-13
The deep geological repository (DGR) is generally considered as the reference solution for the definitive management of spent nuclear fuel/high-level waste (SNF/HLW). Nevertheless, countries having a small waste volume for disposal (e.g. Netherlands) often adopted the “wait and see” strategy in the hope of finding a common solution for many small nuclear industries (benefitting of the economies of scale). Others with a greater waste volume made two different choices: storage and postponed-decision, or “immediate” DGR implementation. We raise the question of the economic ground of such decisions by proposing a utility function which aggregates various costs and benefits procured by the disposal implementation decision.
The simple economic comparison of storage and disposal costs showed that it appears more favorable to extend the interim storage than to dispose of the waste rapidly. The long-timing storage for the spent nuclear fuel has been proposed by the DOEa in the US because of social and technical feasibility difficulties of the Yucca Mountain project. The same decision with a long-term storage has also been chosen in the Netherlands. By contrast, France decided a quick disposal. This decision is based rather on political/social than economic criteria to avoid over-burdening future generations. Furthermore, a quick DGR implementation would facilitate the nuclear renewal decision in France.
This analysis may help decision-makers in managing the DGR construction and commissioning schedules. It also appears a powerful mean for clarifying the differences in scheduling decisions in different countries.