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Division Spotlight
Fusion Energy
This division promotes the development and timely introduction of fusion energy as a sustainable energy source with favorable economic, environmental, and safety attributes. The division cooperates with other organizations on common issues of multidisciplinary fusion science and technology, conducts professional meetings, and disseminates technical information in support of these goals. Members focus on the assessment and resolution of critical developmental issues for practical fusion energy applications.
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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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.”
Gary Johnson (Private Consultant)
Proceedings | Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technolgies (NPIC&HMIT 2019) | Orlando, FL, February 9-14, 2019 | Pages 699-710
Diverse actuation systems are an attempt to cope with unknown unknowns that may lead to common cause failure in the design of I&C safety systems in nuclear power plants. The diverse systems protect against postulated common cause failures internal to I&C safety system design, but are these really the most likely hazard? The intent of this paper is not to fully answer that question, but to begin a discussion of whether diverse actuation systems are the best way to address the unknown unknowns. Appendix 1 of this paper examines 19 severe accidents to identify the causes for safety system failures or late action that contributed to the events that resulted in significant core damage, as well as he contributions of diverse functions where such features played a role in the accidents. The paper also explores: • The role modern diverse systems might have played had they existed during the 19 events, and • Potential alternatives to diverse actuation systems.