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Division Spotlight
Robotics & Remote Systems
The Mission of the Robotics and Remote Systems Division is to promote the development and application of immersive simulation, robotics, and remote systems for hazardous environments for the purpose of reducing hazardous exposure to individuals, reducing environmental hazards and reducing the cost of performing work.
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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Latest News
NRC updating GEIS rule for new nuclear technology
The Nuclear Regulatory Agency is issuing a proposed generic environmental impact statement (GEIS) for use in reviewing applications for new nuclear reactors.
In an April 17 memo, NRC secretary Carrie Safford wrote that the commission approved NRC staff’s recommendation to publish in the Federal Register a proposed rule amending 10 CFR Part 51, “Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions.”
Francisco I. Valentín, Gregory Daines
Nuclear Technology | Volume 207 | Number 6 | June 2021 | Pages 801-814
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2020.1826271
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Creare is developing a miniature, low-power, free-piston energy conversion system. Our converter is designed to transform thermal energy from radioisotope heater units into on-demand electricity essential to space exploration probes, unmanned surface rovers, small landers, small satellites, and similar small-scale systems operating in darkness. We have achieved a simple system design with a single moving part that requires no recuperator and no regenerators or valves. Our converter technology promises a high-efficiency system in an extremely compact enclosure. This work describes preliminary design, analysis, and testing efforts for our miniaturized converter. We fabricated a laboratory-scale prototype and acquired experimental data at prototypical temperatures to validate our performance models. Our numerical model was able to accurately predict converter losses. In doing so, we also demonstrated the feasibility of our novel thermodynamic cycle through the generation of net positive pressure-volume work of the system at its design temperature (~873 K). These results have been used to guide subsequent converter design modifications. Future work includes the fabrication, testing, and detailed performance assessment of a complete prototype converter.