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Fusion energy: Progress, partnerships, and the path to deployment
Over the past decade, fusion energy has moved decisively from scientific aspiration toward a credible pathway to a new energy technology. Thanks to long-term federal support, we have significantly advanced our fundamental understanding of plasma physics—the behavior of the superheated gases at the heart of fusion devices. This knowledge will enable the creation and control of fusion fuel under conditions required for future power plants. Our progress is exemplified by breakthroughs at the National Ignition Facility and the Joint European Torus.
Ernestas Narkūnas, Artūras Šmaižys, Povilas Poškas, Audrius Šimonis, Valerij Naumov, Dmitrij Ekaterinichev
Nuclear Technology | Volume 208 | Number 12 | December 2022 | Pages 1876-1889
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2022.2092367
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
This paper presents an evaluation of the gamma-radiation shielding capabilities of the CONSTOR® RBMK-1500/M2 cask dedicated for the storage of spent nuclear fuel at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant in Lithuania. This cask is of a new design with increased capacity compared to the older CONSTOR RBMK-1500 and CASTOR RBMK-1500 casks and new facility for their interim storage has been installed. “Hot tests” conducted at this new interim storage facility included dose rate measurements of the CONSTOR RBMK-1500/M2 casks that were loaded with particular sets of spent nuclear fuel half-assemblies and transferred to the facility for subsequent interim storage. Having actual data on the spent nuclear fuel half-assemblies that were loaded into a particular cask, gamma dose rate modeling of that CONSTOR RBMK-1500/M2 cask (namely, cask ID 153) was performed. Modeling was performed using the MCNP (based on the stochastic mathematical method) and the VISIPLAN and MicroShield (both based on the deterministic mathematical method) computer codes. The obtained modeling results were compared between the different codes and with the measurement results. The performed analysis revealed that modeled gamma dose rates are in good agreement for all analyzed codes, although agreement with the measurements is to some extent less.