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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.
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2024 ANS Annual Conference
June 16–19, 2024
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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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Nicholas Tsoulfanidis—ANS member since 1969
As an undergraduate I studied physics at the University of Athens. I entered the university in 1955 after successfully passing a national exam (came up fourth in a field of about 700 candidates). Upon graduation and finishing my mandatory two-year military service, the plan was to teach physics either in a public high school or as a tutor for a private for-profit institution, preparing high school students for the national exam.
Timothée Kooyman, Laurent Buiron, Gérald Rimpault
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 185 | Number 2 | February 2017 | Pages 335-350
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2016.1272381
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A methodology dedicated to the optimization of the transmutation of minor actinides (MAs) in dedicated blankets is discussed here. This methodology relies on recently developed optimization tools. In the so-called heterogeneous transmutation approach, MAs are loaded into specific assemblies located at the periphery of a fast reactor core. Thus, the resulting perturbation of the core behavior is limited and the management of MAs is entirely decoupled from standard fuel management. This also allows greater flexibility in the blanket design, in terms of material, volume fraction, and neutron spectrum to be used. On the other hand, the low neutron flux level experienced at the periphery of the core slows down the transmutation process. If this effect can be compensated for by an increase of the MA fraction loaded in the blankets, this also strongly increases their decay heat and neutron source level, which complicates spent fuel reprocessing and handling. An optimization is carried out with regard to the neutron spectrum and americium concentration in the blankets, with the dual objective of maximizing the transmuted MA mass while minimizing the total MA inventory in the fuel cycle by limiting the cooling time of such blankets. Artificial neural networks are coupled with a genetic algorithm to reduce the total calculation time. It is shown here that regardless of the MA mass to be loaded, a slightly moderated neutron spectrum is the most promising option for heterogeneous transmutation. This result is confirmed by full-core calculations. An analysis of the irradiation time is also performed, and it is shown that maximization of the irradiation time should be sought in the specific case studied here. It is concluded that from a purely physical point of view, no breakthrough can be obtained for heterogeneous transmutation.