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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.
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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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Commercial nuclear innovation "new space" age
In early 2006, a start-up company launched a small rocket from a tiny island in the Pacific. It exploded, showering the island with debris. A year later, a second launch attempt sent a rocket to space but failed to make orbit, burning up in the atmosphere. Another year brought a third attempt—and a third failure. The following month, in September 2008, the company used the last of its funds to launch a fourth rocket. It reached orbit, making history as the first privately funded liquid-fueled rocket to do so.
C. Mun, L. Cantrel, C. Madic
Nuclear Technology | Volume 156 | Number 3 | December 2006 | Pages 332-346
Technical Note | Reactor Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT156-332
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
During a hypothetical severe accident in a pressurized water reactor (PWR), fission products (FPs) are released from the nuclear fuel and may reach the reactor containment building. Among the FPs, ruthenium is of particular interest due to its ability to form volatile oxide compounds in highly oxidizing conditions. In addition, ruthenium is a very hazardous compound because it is chemically toxic and also because of its radiotoxicity.The topic of ruthenium is examined in terms of nuclear safety issues. A review of the literature regarding ruthenium oxides properties, gaseous and aqueous chemistry is compiled. The study focuses on ruthenium tetroxide (RuO4), which is highly reactive and volatile and is the most likely gaseous chemical form under the conditions prevailing in the containment. The interactions between ruthenium oxides and containment surfaces, which could be most important in overall ruthenium behavior, are also discussed. Finally, an evaluation of the possible revolatilization phenomena of ruthenium adsorbed on PWR containment surfaces or dissolved in the sump under superoxidizing conditions (radiolysis) is also presented. In this case, ruthenium dioxide (RuO2) must also be considered.Knowledge of all these phenomena is required to accurately predict ruthenium behavior and to make a best-estimate assessment of the potential ruthenium source term.