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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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Latest News
State lawmakers across the country push for more nuclear
From lifting moratoriums to launching studies to labeling it as clean, state lawmakers are exploring ways to give nuclear energy a boost in 2025. Here’s a look at some of the pronuclear legislation under review.
Miguel Morales Gutierrez, Stefano Caruso, Nikitas Diomidis (Nagra)
Proceedings | 16th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference (IHLRWM 2017) | Charlotte, NC, April 9-13, 2017 | Pages 498-505
According to the Swiss disposal concept, the safety of a deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) is based on a multi-barrier system. The disposal canister is an important component of the engineered barrier concept, providing containment of the SNF for at least 10,000 years. This study evaluates the criticality safety and shielding of candidate disposal canister concepts, focusing on the fulfillment of the sub-criticality criterion and on limiting radiolysis processes at the outer surface of the canister which can enhance corrosion mechanisms.
The effective neutron multiplication factor (k-eff) and the surface dose rates are calculated for three different canister designs and material combinations for boiling water reactor (BWR) canisters, containing 12 spent fuel assemblies (SFA), and pressurized water reactor (PWR) canisters, with 4 SFAs. For each configuration, individual criticality and shielding calculations are carried out using the SCALE6.2 package (KENO-VI for criticality; MAVRIC for shielding). The results show that k-eff falls below the defined upper safety limit (USL) of 0.95 for all BWR configurations, while staying above USL for the PWR ones. For a final burnup of 55MWd/kgHM and 30y cooling time, the combined photon-neutron surface dose rate is well below the defined limit of 1Gy/h in all cases.
