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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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Latest News
Proving DRACO will deliver
The United States is now closer than it has been in over five decades to launching the first nuclear thermal rocket into space, thanks to DRACO—the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Orbit.
Susan Hogle, Charles W. Alexander, Jonathan D. Burns, Julie G. Ezold, G. Ivan Maldonado
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 185 | Number 3 | March 2017 | Pages 473-483
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2016.1272973
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
This work applies to recent initiatives at the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to optimize the production of transcurium isotopes in the High Flux Isotope Reactor in such a way as to prolong the use of high-quality heavy curium feedstock. By studying the sensitivity of fission and transmutation reaction rates to the neutron flux energy spectrum, a flux filtering methodology is explored for increasing the fraction of (n,γ) reactions per neutron absorption. Filter materials that preferentially absorb neutrons at energies considered detrimental to optimal transcurium production are identified, and transmutation rates are examined with high-energy resolution. Experimental capsules are irradiated employing filter materials, and the resulting fission and activation products are studied to validate the filtering methodology. Improvement is seen in the production efficiency of heavier curium isotopes in 244Cm and 245Cm targets and potentially in the production of 252Cf from mixed californium targets. Further analysis is recommended to evaluate longer-duration irradiations more representative of typical transcurium production.