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
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
Mar 2026
Jan 2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
April 2026
Nuclear Technology
February 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Swiss nuclear power and the case for long-term operation
Designed for 40 years but built to last far longer, Switzerland’s nuclear power plants have all entered long-term operation. Yet age alone says little about safety or performance. Through continuous upgrades, strict regulatory oversight, and extensive aging management, the country’s reactors are being prepared for decades of continued operation, in line with international practice.
J. Pawliw, G. H. Chalder, R. T. Popple
Nuclear Technology | Volume 2 | Number 6 | December 1966 | Pages 505-509
Technical Paper and Note | doi.org/10.13182/NT66-A27546
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Over 1500 fuel bundles have been irradiated in NPD. Most of this fuel was sheathed with thin, collapsible sheathing. Burnups and residence times have exceeded 10 000 MWd/t Uranium and 850 days, respectively. The deuterium picked up by the Zircaloy-2 sheathing from the heavy-water coolant has not affected fuel performance. Dimensional changes varied from no change to < 0.05% and ≈ 0.5% on element lengths and diameters, respectively. Measured fission-gas release was < 0.1% of that generated. A defected bundle showed little or no deterioration after two and one-half years operation. For NPD, the first operating reactor of the CANDU-PHW type, the fuel performance is fully proven.