ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
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Division Spotlight
Education, Training & Workforce Development
The Education, Training & Workforce Development Division provides communication among the academic, industrial, and governmental communities through the exchange of views and information on matters related to education, training and workforce development in nuclear and radiological science, engineering, and technology. Industry leaders, education and training professionals, and interested students work together through Society-sponsored meetings and publications, to enrich their professional development, to educate the general public, and to advance nuclear and radiological science and engineering.
Meeting Spotlight
2024 ANS Annual Conference
June 16–19, 2024
Las Vegas, NV|Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
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!
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February 2024
Latest News
Can hydrogen be the transportation fuel in an otherwise nuclear economy?
Let’s face it: The global economy should be powered primarily by nuclear power. And it probably will by the end of this century, with a still-significant assist from renewables and hydro. Once nuclear systems are dominant, the costs come down to where gas is now; and when carbon emissions are reduced to a small portion of their present state, it will become obvious that most other sources are only good in niche settings. I mean, why use small modular reactors to load-follow when they can just produce that power instead of buffering it?
Vaclav Dostal, Pavel Hejzlar, Michael J. Driscoll
Nuclear Technology | Volume 154 | Number 3 | June 2006 | Pages 265-282
Technical Paper | Fission Reactors | doi.org/10.13182/NT154-265
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Supercritical carbon dioxide cycles are a promising power conversion option for future nuclear reactors operating with a reactor outlet temperature in the range of 550 to 650°C. The recompression cycle version operating with ~20-MPa turbine inlet pressure achieves similar cycle efficiencies as helium Brayton cycles operating at ~250°C higher turbine inlet temperature. The simplicity and high efficiency of the recompression cycle makes it a prime option from among the family of supercritical carbon dioxide cycles. The elimination of the need for intercooling due to the small required compressor work (because of the high density close to the critical point) makes the recompression cycle even simpler than helium Brayton cycles, which require intercooling to achieve attractive efficiencies. The high operating pressure reduces the size of the plant components significantly, making it a promising power cycle for low-cost modularized electricity-generating nuclear systems. However, the real gas behavior that improves the cycle efficiency presents a challenge for part-load operation. The traditional inventory control used for helium Brayton cycles may not be feasible. Bypass control is thus the prime option for part-load operation, making the cycle less efficient than during base-load operation. Since nuclear power plants are operated almost exclusively in base load, this drawback is not a disqualifying blemish.