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
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.
I. Bernstein, J. S. Greacen, R. A. Matzie, D. D. Miller
Nuclear Technology | Volume 56 | Number 3 | March 1982 | Pages 516-526
Technical Paper | Fuel Cycle | doi.org/10.13182/NT82-A32910
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Semiannual refueling was evaluated as an alternative to the current annual refueling interval for pressurized water reactors. A reference refueling shutdown schedule was established and, by reviewing critical path outage tasks, a minimum duration refueling-only outage was postulated. An improved refueling system consisting of two cantilever-mounted refueling machines and two fuel transfer systems was developed, and an advanced fuel management scheme was examined that reduced the amount of fuel shuffled. In addition, an economic evaluation was performed to determine breakeven energy costs.