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.
Yoshitaka Chikazawa, Mamoru Konomura, Tomoyasu Mizuno, Makoto Mito, Mikio Tanji
Nuclear Technology | Volume 154 | Number 2 | May 2006 | Pages 142-154
Technical Paper | Fission Reactors | doi.org/10.13182/NT06-A3724
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A small fast reactor has the potential to be utilized as a power source applicable to diversified social needs and to reduce capital risks. At remote sites where the population is small and plants cannot be economically connected to a power grid, power sources without refueling whose capacities are <50 MW(electric) are required because the fuel transfer cost is expensive at such sites. In the present study, a small lead-bismuth-cooled core with a 30-yr lifetime has been developed, and a simple plant system without refueling has been sketched. The dimensions of the major components are determined to evaluate its economic potential. Transient analyses of anticipated-transient-without-scram events show that the design has passive safety features suitable for a remote power source.