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Mathematics & Computation
Division members promote the advancement of mathematical and computational methods for solving problems arising in all disciplines encompassed by the Society. They place particular emphasis on numerical techniques for efficient computer applications to aid in the dissemination, integration, and proper use of computer codes, including preparation of computational benchmark and development of standards for computing practices, and to encourage the development on new computer codes and broaden their use.
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2025 ANS Annual Conference
June 15–18, 2025
Chicago, IL|Chicago Marriott Downtown
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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High-temperature plumbing and advanced reactors
The use of nuclear fission power and its role in impacting climate change is hotly debated. Fission advocates argue that short-term solutions would involve the rapid deployment of Gen III+ nuclear reactors, like Vogtle-3 and -4, while long-term climate change impact would rely on the creation and implementation of Gen IV reactors, “inherently safe” reactors that use passive laws of physics and chemistry rather than active controls such as valves and pumps to operate safely. While Gen IV reactors vary in many ways, one thing unites nearly all of them: the use of exotic, high-temperature coolants. These fluids, like molten salts and liquid metals, can enable reactor engineers to design much safer nuclear reactors—ultimately because the boiling point of each fluid is extremely high. Fluids that remain liquid over large temperature ranges can provide good heat transfer through many demanding conditions, all with minimal pressurization. Although the most apparent use for these fluids is advanced fission power, they have the potential to be applied to other power generation sources such as fusion, thermal storage, solar, or high-temperature process heat.1–3
Baofu Lu, Eric Williams, Jerry Mauck, Michael Howard, Richard Wood, Edward L. Quinn
Nuclear Technology | Volume 202 | Number 2 | May-June 2018 | Pages 101-105
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2017.1416878
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the development and assessment of the Diversity and Defense-in-Depth (D3) strategy for the TerraPower Traveling Wave Reactor-Prototype (TWR-P) advanced nuclear power plant. The TWR-P digital control system (DCS) is currently being designed by TerraPower. The instrumentation and control (I&C) design and configuration were based on standard digital control products. The control systems making up the DCS were selected because of their applicability to the functions required by TerraPower and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The installation of a digital-based plant protection system and other systems throughout the TWR-P enhances safety in many areas when compared to the previous generation of analog-based instrumentation systems.
Nuclear facilities have increased their use and reliance on digital technology in systems and equipment (e.g., I&C, electrical systems, and fluid systems). In addition to I&C, examples of safety-related equipment that may use digital technology include emergency diesel generators, pumps, valve actuators, motor control centers, breakers, priority logic modules, time-delay relays, and uninterruptible power sources.
In the United States and around the world, engineering and licensing activities in standards and guidance have been, and are being, developed to address this important consideration in protecting safety-related systems. This paper addresses the latest in standards and guidance development as well as a review of the application of this guidance in the specific case cited.
