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Division Spotlight
Reactor Physics
The division's objectives are to promote the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the fundamental physical phenomena characterizing nuclear reactors and other nuclear systems. The division encourages research and disseminates information through meetings and publications. Areas of technical interest include nuclear data, particle interactions and transport, reactor and nuclear systems analysis, methods, design, validation and operating experience and standards. The Wigner Award heads the awards program.
Meeting Spotlight
2023 ANS Winter Conference and Expo
November 12–15, 2023
Washington, D.C.|Washington Hilton
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
November 2023
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Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
NCSU’s advanced research reactor study to be funded by state
North Carolina’s fiscal year 2024 budget for the state has allocated $3 million for North Carolina State University, in Raleigh, to conduct a study to assess the feasibility for the establishment of an advanced nuclear research reactor.
Thomas F. Fuerst, Chase N. Taylor, Paul W. Humrickhouse
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 79 | Number 1 | January 2023 | Pages 77-94
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2022.2090784
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Permeation is investigated for the introduction of hydrogen isotopes into lead lithium (PbLi) for the Tritium Extraction eXperiment (TEX). TEX is a forced-convection PbLi loop under construction at Idaho National Laboratory that will test the vacuum permeator (VP) method of tritium extraction from PbLi. The source permeator (SP) delivers atomic hydrogen (H, D, and T) from a gas-phase reservoir into the PbLi via a permeable dense metal membrane. A modular system and a fixed SP system are presented. In the modular design, PbLi flows through the inside of a tubular membrane, and gas-phase hydrogen is introduced on the outside of the membrane. Atomic hydrogen permeates radially inward through the membrane into the PbLi. In the fixed design, PbLi flows into an expansion chamber with closed-ended tubular membranes inserted. Gas-phase hydrogen is introduced on the inside of the closed-ended membranes, and atomic hydrogen permeates radially outward into the flowing PbLi. Hydrogen transport models based on steady-state mass transport through PbLi and permeation through the metal membrane were developed to assess the operation of the SP relative to experimental variables and to allow understanding of uncertain parameter effects, such as PbLi hydrogen transport properties and the effective hydrogen permeability of the VP. This modeling effort considers iron as the SP material and vanadium as the VP material.