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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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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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New coolants, new fuels: A new generation of university reactors
Here’s an easy way to make aging U.S. power reactors look relatively youthful: Compare them (average age: 43) with the nation’s university research reactors. The 25 operating today have been licensed for an average of about 58 years.
Gene L. Woodruff, David C. Quimby
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 62 | Number 1 | January 1977 | Pages 45-54
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE77-A26938
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A simplified but approximate method for the calculation of nuclear heating is described. Results using this method are compared with those of more rigorous calculations. The computational effort required is significantly reduced, and an accuracy generally better than ±20% can be achieved provided reasonable estimates of gamma-ray production are used. It would appear that the gamma-ray absorption coefficients used here are too low as a result of assuming average gamma-ray energies that are too high. As experience is gained with use of the method, greater accuracy should result from improved assumptions regarding both gamma-ray production and average gamma-ray energies.