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Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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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.
Robert C. Bowden, Casey Tompkins, Sun-Kyu Yang (CNL)
Proceedings | Advances in Thermal Hydraulics 2018 | Orlando, FL, November 11-15, 2018 | Pages 751-764
In this experimental investigation, mean liquid velocity fields were investigated for turbulent flow within a horizontal 7-rod bundle geometry using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). PIV measurements were conducted at two axial locations, near the bundle inlet and also near the mid-plane, and at four Reynolds numbers ranging from approximately 8400 to 21000 based on a hydraulic diameter of 7.636 mm. The axial velocity fields in three different gap regions of the 7-rod bundle were reported, including rod-rod gaps and rod-channel gaps. Statistical techniques were used to describe the velocity fields, including mean and turbulent velocity components. The instantaneous and ensemble-averaged velocities in the gap regions are shown to be aligned in the axial (horizontal) flow direction, with a negligible mean vertical components. It was found that the maximum velocity profile was between 20 to 25% higher than the average velocity, while measured axial turbulent velocity typically ranged between 10 to 20% of the corresponding mean velocity. Profiles of local mean and turbulent velocity components in the gap regions were found to be self-similar when normalized using the maximum velocity, and local velocity, respectively.