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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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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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The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
Marie-Sophie Chenaud, Gilles Rodriguez (CEA), Jean-François Dirat, Alexandre Villedieu (Framatome)
Proceedings | 2018 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP 2018) | Charlotte, NC, April 8-11, 2018 | Pages 562-570
Design studies of the ASTRID nuclear island are conducted in accordance with GEN IV reactors criteria, in particularly for safety and operability improvement.
The latest configuration of ASTRID nuclear island (including primary and secondary circuits) has been produced by Framatome at the end of 2017 corresponding to the middle of the Basic Design phase.
This paper describes the main ASTRID safety and operational requirements and the up-to-date design options, focusing on innovative options. Items addressed in the paper include: vessels (main and safety vessels), core support structures, primary pumps and pumps-diagrid connecting pipes, Above Core Structure, Intermediate Heat eXchangers, internal vessel, upper closures (slab and rotating plugs), Decay Heat Removal systems and core catcher. The global architecture of the primary and secondary circuits, in connection with the Gas Power Conversion System, is also presented.
This paper reports on the progress of the studies concerning:
- thermal hydraulics and thermal mechanics,
- evaluations of the seismic resistance,
- in-service inspection,
- qualification needs.
Lastly, it indicates the open options for materials, components and general architecture, which will continue to be studied in the second half of the Basic Design phase.