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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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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
The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
Kenneth S. Allen, Edward P. Naessens, Jr.
Nuclear Technology | Volume 152 | Number 3 | December 2005 | Pages 354-366
Technical Paper | Radioactive Waste Management and Disposal | doi.org/10.13182/NT05-A3682
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Analysis is performed on the production and destruction rates of recycled transuranics (TRUs) in a light water reactor (LWR) fuel assembly using a Monte Carlo-based fuel depletion code (MONTEBURNS 2.0). Thirteen TRUs were recycled into the LWR model through ten 3-yr burnup cycles for a total depletion period of 30 yr. The focus of the research was to determine the relative reduction of TRU waste within the fuel cycle and determine the impact of the recycled TRUs on fuel criticality, waste toxicity, activity, and heat-load production. The amount of TRUs could be reduced by more than a factor of 4 for a 30-yr period when these 13 isotopes were recycled.
