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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.
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2024 ANS Annual Conference
June 16–19, 2024
Las Vegas, NV|Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
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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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Can hydrogen be the transportation fuel in an otherwise nuclear economy?
Let’s face it: The global economy should be powered primarily by nuclear power. And it probably will by the end of this century, with a still-significant assist from renewables and hydro. Once nuclear systems are dominant, the costs come down to where gas is now; and when carbon emissions are reduced to a small portion of their present state, it will become obvious that most other sources are only good in niche settings. I mean, why use small modular reactors to load-follow when they can just produce that power instead of buffering it?
M. Hélie, Cl. Desgranges, St. Perrin
Nuclear Technology | Volume 155 | Number 2 | August 2006 | Pages 120-132
Technical Paper | Materials | doi.org/10.13182/NT06-A3751
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In the framework of a law voted in 1991, it has been decided that the management of French high-level nuclear waste (HLW) should be studied along three main lines: (a) transmutation of actinides in fast breeder reactors, (b) long-term interim storage of waste containers (whether containing vitrified waste or spent fuel elements canisters) for a maximum period of 300 yr, and (c) geological disposal of the containers after the interim storage period.The last two lines of research, among other problems, bring up the question of the long-term corrosion behavior of the containers. The Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique (CEA) is in charge of the researches concerning the transmutation of the actinides and the long-term interim storage.As interim storage is concerned, extended studies are being carried out at the CEA in order to predict the environmental conditions of an interim storage facility and the consequent corrosion of the HLW containers over a period of 300 yr.A dry corrosion phase of a minimum duration of 100 yr was identified, followed by an atmospheric corrosion phase of a maximum duration of 200 yr. Phenomenological models were developed to obtain an estimate of the total corrosion damage during interim storage.Results led to a conservative estimate of a corroded thickness of metal comprised between 0.35 and 1 mm, hence, <2% of the wall thickness of the overpacks.Because of the extended period of time considered, this estimate, partly based on the extrapolation of experimental results, has to be reinforced. Mechanistic modeling of the elementary processes is currently in progress and has already given encouraging results for both the dry and atmospheric corrosion phases.