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.
Division Spotlight
Nuclear Criticality Safety
NCSD provides communication among nuclear criticality safety professionals through the development of standards, the evolution of training methods and materials, the presentation of technical data and procedures, and the creation of specialty publications. In these ways, the division furthers the exchange of technical information on nuclear criticality safety with the ultimate goal of promoting the safe handling of fissionable materials outside reactors.
Meeting Spotlight
2024 ANS Annual Conference
June 16–19, 2024
Las Vegas, NV|Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Standards Program
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!
Latest Magazine Issues
Apr 2024
Jan 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
May 2024
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Constellation seeks subsequent license renewal for Dresden
Constellation Energy has filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a subsequent license renewal for its Dresden nuclear power plant in Illinois. The extension would allow Dresden to run through 2051.
The filing begins a comprehensive, multiyear review by the NRC. Unit 2 is currently licensed to operate through 2029 and Unit 3 through 2031. The facility’s license was first renewed by the NRC in 2004.
Mark Massie, Benoit Forget
Nuclear Technology | Volume 182 | Number 2 | May 2013 | Pages 207-223
Regular Technical Paper | Special Issue on the Symposium on Radiation Effects in Ceramic Oxide and Novel LWR Fuels / Fission Reactors | doi.org/10.13182/NT13-A16431
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
This work presents a methodology for determining the optimal neutron energy spectrum for meeting user-specified transmutation objectives. A simulated annealing routine is used to find the optimal neutron energy distribution by iteratively modifying the flux spectrum, performing depletion calculations, and computing the value of the cost function.To demonstrate this methodology, we found optimal flux spectra for transmuting used nuclear fuel (UNF) to maximize proliferation resistance and to maximize repository capacity by minimizing decay heat. Multiple cost functions are evaluated for each of the two objectives. For maximizing proliferation resistance, we determined the optimal spectra for minimizing 239Pu mass, maximizing 238Pu mass, maximizing 240Pu mass, and minimizing the mass ratio of 239Pu to 238Pu and 240Pu. The results of this study show that while both fast and thermal neutrons are useful for reducing the amount of 239Pu, a thermal spectrum is best for rendering plutonium from UNF unusable as weapons material.Optimal spectra for maximizing repository capacity are found for minimizing the time-integrated decay heat generated by the transmuted UNF. This study shows that optimal transmutation of the full UNF vector can reduce the amount of decay heat released over 10 000 yr by [approximately]39% and that even more substantial reductions are possible with transuranic element-only transmutation, which can decrease decay energy by >81%. Furthermore, it is shown that a thermal spectrum is substantially more effective than a fast spectrum for reducing decay heat released by UNF over 10 000 yr, thus increasing the capacity of heat-limited waste repositories. Results such as these provide powerful insight into the complicated energy dependence of transmutation and illustrate this methodology's effectiveness as a scoping tool.