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Division members promote the advancement of mathematical and computational methods for solving problems arising in all disciplines encompassed by the Society. They place particular emphasis on numerical techniques for efficient computer applications to aid in the dissemination, integration, and proper use of computer codes, including preparation of computational benchmark and development of standards for computing practices, and to encourage the development on new computer codes and broaden their use.
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2024 ANS Annual Conference
June 16–19, 2024
Las Vegas, NV|Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
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Latest News
The busyness of the nuclear fuel supply chain
Ken Petersenpresident@ans.org
With all that is happening in the industry these days, the nuclear fuel supply chain is still a hot topic. The Russian assault in Ukraine continues to upend the “where” and “how” of attaining nuclear fuel—and it has also motivated U.S. legislators to act.
Two years into the Russian war with Ukraine, things are different. The Inflation Reduction Act was passed in 2022, authorizing $700 million in funding to support production of high-assay low-enriched uranium in the United States. Meanwhile, the Department of Energy this January issued a $500 million request for proposals to stimulate new HALEU production. The Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024 includes $2.7 billion in funding for new uranium enrichment production. This funding was diverted from the Civil Nuclear Credits program and will only be released if there is a ban on importing Russian uranium into the United States—which could happen by the time this column is published, as legislation that bans Russian uranium has passed the House as of this writing and is headed for the Senate. Also being considered is legislation that would sanction Russian uranium. Alternatively, the Biden-Harris administration may choose to ban Russian uranium without legislation in order to obtain access to the $2.7 billion in funding.
Laila El-Guebaly
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 79 | Number 8 | November 2023 | Pages 919-931
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2022.2151820
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In recent decades, fusion designers have become increasingly aware of the large amount of mildly radioactive materials that fusion generates in comparison to their fission counterpart, which is a problem that was overlooked in early fusion studies. This radioactive waste (radwaste) problem could influence public acceptability of fusion and will certainly become a significant issue in the immediate future as fusion moves forward toward commercialization. There is a growing appreciation to revisit the 1960s decision that relegated all radwaste to the back end as only a disposal issue. In light of the challenges facing fusion in the 21st century, a thoughtful alternate approach that promotes recycling and clearance of all fusion radioactive materials is considered to stress the environmental value of fusion in utilizing natural assets efficiently, assert the fundamental premise of fusion as a nuclear energy source with minimal environmental impact, and gain public acceptability for fusion. This strategy helps to reach the common goal of several organizations that recommend recycling and clearing as much radioactive material as practically possible to reduce final radwaste burdens/risks and to maximize the use of natural resources. Recognizing the relatively early stages of commercial fusion maturity, lessons learned and worldwide industrial experiences from other nuclear fields are valuable resources for the fusion recycling/clearance approach. To make such an approach a reality, the global fusion program should be set up to accommodate the new strategy at an early stage of fusion designs and address the identified issues and needs with directed research and development programs. The absence of official fusion regulatory guidelines has been recognized for several decades, but some progress has been made in recent years, recognizing that fusion is different from fission and has a different radionuclide profile.