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Human Factors, Instrumentation & Controls
Improving task performance, system reliability, system and personnel safety, efficiency, and effectiveness are the division's main objectives. Its major areas of interest include task design, procedures, training, instrument and control layout and placement, stress control, anthropometrics, psychological input, and motivation.
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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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Latest News
NRC wants input on Hermes 2 test reactor construction permit
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seeking input on its draft environmental assessment and draft finding of no significant impact for Kairos Power’s application to build the Hermes 2 test reactor facility in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
G. H. Miley
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 20 | Number 4 | December 1991 | Pages 977-986
Advanced Energy Conversion/Storage and Exotic Concepts | doi.org/10.13182/FST91-A11946970
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The importance of direct energy conversion to the long-term development of nuclear power (both fission and fusion) is discussed as an approach to alleviating waste heat problems, reducing overall system costs and enabling new uses such as nuclear space power propulsion. Various approaches that involve direct conversion of radiation energy are considered relative to fission reactors. The examples discussed involve the direct conversion of fission fragment energy to electricity, to thrust for propulsion, and to coherent laser light, illustrating the rich variety of potential conversion methods that can be envisioned.
Applications to future fusion systems are also discussed. Two approaches are considered: direct collection of fusion product energy, and extraction of plasma radiation energy.
Finally, thermal direct conversion is included as an important near term route to enhanced performance, e.g., in-core thermionic converters potentially offer enhanced operation of a SP100 type reactor for space applications.