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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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Latest News
X-energy receives federal tax credit for TRISO fuel facility
Advanced reactor company X-energy has been awarded $148.5 million in tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act for construction of its TRISO-X fuel fabrication facility in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Yasushi Tsuboi, Kazuo Arie, Nobuyuki Ueda, Tony Grenci, A. M. Yacout
Nuclear Technology | Volume 178 | Number 2 | May 2012 | Pages 201-217
Technical Paper | Small Modular Reactors / Fission Reactors | doi.org/10.13182/NT10-74
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Super-Safe, Small and Simple (4S) sodium-cooled fast reactor plant incorporates innovative design features, such as a nonrefueling reactor, passive safety, low maintenance requirements, and inherent security. Major components such as the reflector drive mechanisms, the electromagnetic pumps, and the double-wall tube steam generator have been optimized for efficient and safe operation.The nonrefueling reactor concept is made possible by incorporating a 30-yr refueling interval for the reflector-controlled metallic fuel core. Sodium-cooled, metallic-fueled fast reactors have a good conversion ratio due to fast neutron usage, thus extending the core life. Passive safety is achieved with redundant residual heat removal systems that function using only natural circulation, and a metallic core with a negative reactivity coefficient. Low maintenance requirements are achieved by simplifying the design and minimizing the use of active components, and by using electromagnetic pumps, which have no moving parts. The inherent security of the nuclear materials is significantly enhanced by the nonrefueling reactor concept and the minimal maintenance requirements. In addition, the reactor building is located below ground level, providing substantial protection against an aircraft impact and thus further enhancing the security of the design.The demonstration of key components such as the electromagnetic pumps and the steam generator is part of an ongoing testing program that has already confirmed many of the 4S engineering solutions.This paper describes the current status of design and component tests for the 4S reactor.