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State news: Microreactors, legislation, executive orders, and more
Discussions and actions on nuclear energy have penetrated several state capitol buildings, congressional hearings, and industry gatherings across the United States this month, including in Alaska, Connecticut, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York.
Joseph A. Christensen, R. A. Borrelli
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 196 | Number 1 | January 2022 | Pages 98-108
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2021.1940066
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Algorithms used to generate Monte Carlo input decks and to analyze the output over a range of uranium mass, water volume, and particle size in a regular lattice are described. The algorithms produce input decks for both homogeneous and heterogeneous, regular-lattice systems of 20% enriched uranium metal and water and then analyze the results to determine the minimum critical mass over a range of input mass and particle size. The output is presented and analyzed for a 20% enriched uranium metal and water system, and comparisons to existing technical reports and safety guides are discussed. Two particular existing recommendations are tested and compared with new results: the boundary between a homogeneous system and a heterogeneous system, and the recommended margins of safety that can be applied to account for the effects of heterogeneity.