ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Materials Science & Technology
The objectives of MSTD are: promote the advancement of materials science in Nuclear Science Technology; support the multidisciplines which constitute it; encourage research by providing a forum for the presentation, exchange, and documentation of relevant information; promote the interaction and communication among its members; and recognize and reward its members for significant contributions to the field of materials science in nuclear technology.
Meeting Spotlight
2024 ANS Annual Conference
June 16–19, 2024
Las Vegas, NV|Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
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!
Latest Magazine Issues
May 2024
Jan 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
June 2024
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
The busyness of the nuclear fuel supply chain
Ken Petersenpresident@ans.org
With all that is happening in the industry these days, the nuclear fuel supply chain is still a hot topic. The Russian assault in Ukraine continues to upend the “where” and “how” of attaining nuclear fuel—and it has also motivated U.S. legislators to act.
Two years into the Russian war with Ukraine, things are different. The Inflation Reduction Act was passed in 2022, authorizing $700 million in funding to support production of high-assay low-enriched uranium in the United States. Meanwhile, the Department of Energy this January issued a $500 million request for proposals to stimulate new HALEU production. The Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024 includes $2.7 billion in funding for new uranium enrichment production. This funding was diverted from the Civil Nuclear Credits program and will only be released if there is a ban on importing Russian uranium into the United States—which could happen by the time this column is published, as legislation that bans Russian uranium has passed the House as of this writing and is headed for the Senate. Also being considered is legislation that would sanction Russian uranium. Alternatively, the Biden-Harris administration may choose to ban Russian uranium without legislation in order to obtain access to the $2.7 billion in funding.
E.T. Cheng, R.J. Cerbone, Y.-K.M. Peng, J.D. Galambos, D. Strickler, I.N. Sviatoslavsky, C.P.C. Wong, D.K. Sze, X.R. Wang, M. Simnad, M. Tillack
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 34 | Number 3 | November 1998 | Pages 1066-1070
Nuclear Testing and Design (Poster Session) | doi.org/10.13182/FST98-A11963755
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Progress is given on the investigation of a low cost, scientifically attractive, and technologically feasible volumetric neutron source (VNS) based on the spherical torus (ST) concept. The ST-VNS has a major radius of 1.07 m, an aspect ratio of 1.4, and a plasma elongation 3. It can produce a neutron wall loading ultimately up to 5 MW/m2 averaged over the outboard test section when the fusion power reaches 380 MW. Initial operation of this device can be at a level of 1 MW/m2 or lower. Higher performance blanket components can be developed to raised the neutron wall loading. Using staged high wall loading operation scheme and optimistic availability projected for the VNS device, a neutron fluence of more than 30 MW-y/m2 can be expected to accumulate within 20 years of operation. Assessments of lifetime and reliability of fusion core components will thus be allowed in a power reactor relevant environment. A full-function testing of fusion core components may also become possible because of the high neutron wall loading capability. Integrated testing of tritium breeding in such a full scale power reactor relevant VNS device can be very useful to verify the self-sufficiency of fuel cycle in candidate power blanket concepts.