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
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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
Aug 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
August 2025
Latest News
DOE fast tracks test reactor projects: What to know
The Department of Energy today unveiled 10 companies racing to bring test reactors online by next year to meet Trump's deadline of next Independance Day, leveraging a new DOE pathway that allows reactor authorization outside national labs. As first outlined in one of the four executive orders on nuclear energy released by President Trump on May 23 and in the request for applications for the Reactor Pilot Program released June 18, the companies must use their own money and sites—and DOE authorization—to get reactors operating. What they won’t need is a Nuclear Regulatory Commission license.
R. C. Noyes, P. K. Doherty, S. A. Caspersson, N. Hanus, D. W. Stuteville
Nuclear Technology | Volume 26 | Number 4 | August 1975 | Pages 460-471
Technical Paper | Fuel | doi.org/10.13182/NT75-A24446
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A study to determine the optimum pin diameter for carbide fuel in a liquid-metal fast breeder reactor was made. Several subsidiary parameters, including coolant velocity, burnup, and properties of the clad and subassembly duct material, were studied for their effect on the optimum pin diameter. The materials used in the analysis were Type 316 stainless steel and a high strength, low swelling material capable of operation to a damage fluence of 3.6 × 1023 n/cm2. Using doubling time and fuel cycle cost as the basis for judgment, an optimum pin outer diameter (o.d.) range of 0.37 to 0.40 in. was found for both the near-term and advanced structural materials. Because of practical limits of the Fast Test Reactor testing, an o.d. of 0.37 in. is recommended. The optimum pin diameter was found to be independent of fuel burnup. From a doubling time point of view, no incentive was found for development of carbide fuel with a burnup greater than 80 to 90 MWd/kg.
