ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
May 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
June 2026
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
NRC proposes changes to its rules on nuclear materials
In response to Executive Order 14300, “Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,” the NRC is proposing sweeping changes to its rules governing the use of nuclear materials that are widely used in industry, medicine, and research. The changes would amend NRC regulations for the licensing of nuclear byproduct material, some source material, and some special nuclear material.
As published in the May 18 Federal Register, the NRC is seeking public comment on this proposed rule and draft interim guidance until July 2.
Alex Galperin
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 86 | Number 1 | January 1984 | Pages 112-115
Technical Note | doi.org/10.13182/NSE84-A17976
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
An alternative method of thorium utilization in light water reactors (LWRs) is proposed. The main idea of the proposed concept is to apply a different fuel management scheme for the neutron-producing part of the core, the uranium seed, and for the neutron-absorbing part of the core, the thorium blanket. An example of the specific design based on this concept was analyzed, and preliminary evaluation indicated the potential of significant savings in uranium consumption. The fuel cycle of the proposed concept includes reprocessing and re-fabrication of uranium fuel only, without separation of plutonium and 233U isotopes. Such a fuel cycle offers higher proliferation resistance compared with the LWR recycle mode of operation or the light water breeder reactor fuel cycle. Finally, the feasibility of the reactor design based on the proposed concept may be established after detailed thermal-hydraulic analysis and study of the irradiation behavior of the thorium-based fuel.