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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!
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
August 2024
Nuclear Technology
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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.”
Barry L. Butterfield (Retired), Daniel B. Bullen (DNFSB)
Proceedings | 16th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference (IHLRWM 2017) | Charlotte, NC, April 9-13, 2017 | Pages 330-335
An important component of the proposed Yucca Mountain Project was the development of a new rail line intended to transport waste casks from the main U.S. rail system to the repository site. The early phases of repository development identified five corridors for consideration: Carlin, Jean, Valley Modified, Caliente, and Caliente-Chalk Mountain. Later in the process, DOE added a new corridor, Mina, based on conversations with the Walker River Paiute Tribal Council. In the Final Environmental Impact Statement (RA-EIS) for the rail alignments, DOE concluded that two rail corridors, Caliente and Mina, would be considered in detail. Nevada Rail Partners, a subcontractor to the Yucca Mountain Project management and operations contractor, evaluated ten possible alternate alignments within the Caliente Corridor, and four alternate alignments within the Mina Corridor. The evaluations included alternative alignments (including rail design criteria), rail construction, yard facilities, and rail operations issues. This paper briefly describes these evaluations, and provides a summary of the engineering evaluation of facility requirements, system controls, construction planning, and air quality issues.
Development of conceptual design drawings for alternate alignments was relatively straightforward. The conceptual design process also included development of preliminary construction plans that provided a basis to the environmental contractor who prepared the RA-EIS. This paper focuses on the lessons learned throughout this conceptual design process as well as from a review of public comments received on the RA-EIS. These lessons address issues associated with general design principles, resource impacts, and alignment selection. This paper also provides a strategic assessment of issues regarding the new paradigm for environmental activism. These issues should be incorporated into the evaluation of any updated transportation plan for Yucca Mountain, should that site be re-considered, or any new site identified by either the Department of Energy or a private sector applicant.