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Reactor Physics
The division's objectives are to promote the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the fundamental physical phenomena characterizing nuclear reactors and other nuclear systems. The division encourages research and disseminates information through meetings and publications. Areas of technical interest include nuclear data, particle interactions and transport, reactor and nuclear systems analysis, methods, design, validation and operating experience and standards. The Wigner Award heads the awards program.
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2024 ANS Annual Conference
June 16–19, 2024
Las Vegas, NV|Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
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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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Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Zap Energy hits 37-million-degree electron temperatures in compact fusion device
Zap Energy announced April 23 that it has reached 1-3 keV plasma electron temperatures—roughly the equivalent of 11 to 37 million degrees Celsius—using its sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch approach to fusion. Reaching temperatures above that of the sun’s core (which is 10 million degrees Celsius temperature) is just one hurdle required before any fusion confinement concept can realistically pursue net gain and fusion energy.
L. A. El-Guebaly, C. G. Bathke
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 30 | Number 3 | December 1996 | Pages 1058-1062
Fusion Blanket and Shield Technology | doi.org/10.13182/FST96-A11963077
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Vanadium alloys and SiC/SiC composites offer significant advantages in their low activation characteristics and high thermal performance capability. However, a design based entirely on these advanced structures would be expensive. Therefore, it is essential to limit the use of such advanced materials to highly irradiated components such as plasma facing components and blanket. The cost savings for replacing the V and SiC structures of the massive shield with steel are significant. This will degrade the thermal conversion efficiency of the system somewhat since steel cannot operate at temperatures as high as V or SiC. The dividing boundary between the high temperature and low temperature zones will therefore depend on how much power could be dumped as low grade heat without significantly reducing the useful thermal power. This novel approach for designing the shield of V- and SiC-Based fusion power plants, along with other innovative ideas that improved the shield performance, reduced the overall cost of electricity by 10%, which is significant.