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Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy
The mission of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy Division (NNPD) is to promote the peaceful use of nuclear technology while simultaneously preventing the diversion and misuse of nuclear material and technology through appropriate safeguards and security, and promotion of nuclear nonproliferation policies. To achieve this mission, the objectives of the NNPD are to: Promote policy that discourages the proliferation of nuclear technology and material to inappropriate entities. Provide information to ANS members, the technical community at large, opinion leaders, and decision makers to improve their understanding of nuclear nonproliferation issues. Become a recognized technical resource on nuclear nonproliferation, safeguards, and security issues. Serve as the integration and coordination body for nuclear nonproliferation activities for the ANS. Work cooperatively with other ANS divisions to achieve these objective nonproliferation policies.
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ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
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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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Colin Judge: Testing structural materials in Idaho’s newest hot cell facility
Idaho National Laboratory’s newest facility—the Sample Preparation Laboratory (SPL)—sits across the road from the Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HFEF), which started operating in 1975. SPL will host the first new hot cells at INL’s Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) in 50 years, giving INL researchers and partners new flexibility to test the structural properties of irradiated materials fresh from the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) or from a partner’s facility.
Materials meant to withstand extreme conditions in fission or fusion power plants must be tested under similar conditions and pushed past their breaking points so performance and limitations can be understood and improved. Once irradiated, materials samples can be cut down to size in SPL and packaged for testing in other facilities at INL or other national laboratories, commercial labs, or universities. But they can also be subjected to extreme thermal or corrosive conditions and mechanical testing right in SPL, explains Colin Judge, who, as INL’s division director for nuclear materials performance, oversees SPL and other facilities at the MFC.
SPL won’t go “hot” until January 2026, but Judge spoke with NN staff writer Susan Gallier about its capabilities as his team was moving instruments into the new facility.
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.
