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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
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!
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
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Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Bipartisan Fusion Energy Act pushes for regulatory clarity
Padilla
Sen. Alex Padilla (D., Calif.) introduced the Fusion Energy Act (S. 4151) last month with a bipartisan group of cosponsors—John Cornyn (R., Texas), Cory Booker (D., N.J.), Todd Young (R., Ind.), and Patty Murray (D., Wash.). The legislation would codify the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s regulatory authority over commercial fusion energy systems to streamline the creation of clear federal regulations that will support the development of commercial fusion power plants—and would require a report within one year on a study of risk- and performance-based, design-specific licensing frameworks for “mass-manufactured fusion machines.
“Congress must do everything in its power to ensure continued U.S. leadership in developing commercial fusion energy facilities,” said Padilla as he introduced the bill. “The Fusion Energy Act would provide regulatory certainty for investors as the NRC develops and streamlines frameworks for such facilities.”
Bernhard Blumenthal
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 2 | Number 4 | July 1957 | Pages 407-426
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE57-A25406
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Several of the contaminants of uranium can be removed or controlled by vacuum melting and liquation. The lower limits of carbon content which can be attained by liquation in urania crucibles are 225 to 250 ppm at 1195°C, 190 to 225 ppm at 1150°C, and 170 ppm at 1138°C. In magnesia crucibles the reaction 3 MgO + UC → UO2 + CO + 3 Mg proceeds to the right in a high vacuum resulting in incomplete carbon removal. Oxygen and nitrogen are rapidly removed by liquation and contents of less than 10 ppm are readily obtained. Iron and silicon are not removed by a simple melting and liquation process. Various crucible materials were investigated and the effect of addition agents such as nitrogen, tantalum, titanium, and zirconium was studied. Under optimum vacuum melting conditions a metal is produced that will contain no more than 130 to 200 ppm total impurities.
