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Division Spotlight
Thermal Hydraulics
The division provides a forum for focused technical dialogue on thermal hydraulic technology in the nuclear industry. Specifically, this will include heat transfer and fluid mechanics involved in the utilization of nuclear energy. It is intended to attract the highest quality of theoretical and experimental work to ANS, including research on basic phenomena and application to nuclear system design.
Meeting Spotlight
2025 ANS Annual Conference
June 15–18, 2025
Chicago, IL|Chicago Marriott Downtown
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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Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Smarter waste strategies: Helping deliver on the promise of advanced nuclear
At COP28, held in Dubai in 2023, a clear consensus emerged: Nuclear energy must be a cornerstone of the global clean energy transition. With electricity demand projected to soar as we decarbonize not just power but also industry, transport, and heat, the case for new nuclear is compelling. More than 20 countries committed to tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050. In the United States alone, the Department of Energy forecasts that the country’s current nuclear capacity could more than triple, adding 200 GW of new nuclear to the existing 95 GW by mid-century.
Charles E. Ahlfeld, David A. Dilling, Kazuyuki Ishimoto, Susan Stoner, Eiichi Tanaka
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 30 | Number 3 | December 1996 | Pages 611-617
International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor | doi.org/10.13182/FST96-A11963006
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) design has evolved to a level of maturity that has enabled the building designers to define the major dimensions and characteristics of the cluster of buildings that contain the tokamak and adjacent support equipment. Three-dimensional building models developed in a CATIATM database provide the framework for the equipment layout.
This paper describes the preliminary layout of all major pieces of equipment, large bore pipes, ducts, busbars and other services. It is anticipated that some features of the layout will change as equipment design is advanced and future decisions are made, but these changes are not expected to alter the basic building design and any necessary changes are facilitated by the 3-D CATIA™ models.
Accommodating the initial assembly and major maintenance (disassembly) scenarios of the tokamak significantly influenced the design solutions selected. Major maintenance considerations also provide conceptual feasibility for decommissioning activities. Equipment access and removal pathways for all equipment that must be replaceable have been provided in the buildings for both non-radioactive and radioactive or contaminated components.
Extensive shielding studies have led to inherent and engineered protective measures for workers and equipment. Building ventilation systems are designed such that contaminated atmospheres may be isolated, recirculated, filtered and detritiated, with ultimate release through a tall exhaust stack.
Because the ITER site may not be known before 1998, the building and equipment designs have been configured so they can be adapted to potentially more demanding site-specific conditions such as higher seismicity, winds, aircraft impact and extreme low temperatures without requiring major redesign. A solid starting point for the detailed design work that must be completed in the next two years has been established. Continued collaboration between the ITER Joint Central Team and the Four Party Home Teams will provide the fully integrated engineering design for future decisions on the construction of ITER.
