ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
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Division Spotlight
Isotopes & Radiation
Members are devoted to applying nuclear science and engineering technologies involving isotopes, radiation applications, and associated equipment in scientific research, development, and industrial processes. Their interests lie primarily in education, industrial uses, biology, medicine, and health physics. Division committees include Analytical Applications of Isotopes and Radiation, Biology and Medicine, Radiation Applications, Radiation Sources and Detection, and Thermal Power Sources.
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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Nuclear Science and Engineering
April 2024
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
February 2024
Latest News
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?
George H. Miley
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 4 | Number 2 | September 1983 | Pages 368-394
Technical Paper | Special Section Content / Compact Fusion Concept | doi.org/10.13182/FST83-A22831
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
If technically feasible, small, low capital cost pilot plants would accelerate fusion development. The ultimate economic issue associated with this approach is whether or not these plants can then be developed into commercial power plants without a significant increase in size, i.e., power level. It is concluded that, to be competitive, small [ 500-MW(electric)] fusion plants would require new techniques (for the power industry) such as modular construction with factorycentered mass production of modules and minimum on-site construction. Otherwise, the economy-of-scale favors as large a power level as possible within limits imposed by constraints associated with institutional structures, siting restrictions, and electrical grid sizes—all of which could undergo radical changes by the time fusion is introduced.