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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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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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New coolants, new fuels: A new generation of university reactors
Here’s an easy way to make aging U.S. power reactors look relatively youthful: Compare them (average age: 43) with the nation’s university research reactors. The 25 operating today have been licensed for an average of about 58 years.
W. P. Barthold, J. C. Beitel
Nuclear Technology | Volume 44 | Number 1 | June 1979 | Pages 44-60
Technical Paper | Reactor | doi.org/10.13182/NT79-A32237
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Six homogeneous and heterogeneous core configurations with different fuel pin diameters and different degrees of neutronic coupling have been analyzed. All designs were based on the same design assumptions and constraints. Homogeneous and heterogeneous designs were evaluated with respect to fissile inventory, flux and power distribution, burnup, breeding ratio and doubling times, sodium void reactivity, Doppler coefficient, control rod worth, and transient response. The sensitivity of breeding performance to different fuel life criteria was determined.