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 Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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!
Latest Magazine Issues
Dec 2025
Jul 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
December 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
November 2025
Latest News
Modernizing I&C for operations and maintenance, one phase at a time
The two reactors at Dominion Energy’s Surry plant are among the oldest in the U.S. nuclear fleet. Yet when the plant celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023, staff could raise a toast to the future. Surry was one of the first plants to file a subsequent license renewal (SLR) application, and in May 2021, it became official: the plant was licensed to operate for a full 80 years, extending its reactors’ lifespans into 2052 and 2053.
W. Van Snyder
Nuclear Technology | Volume 209 | Number 11 | November 2023 | Pages 1840-1858
Note | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2023.2205551
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In April 1961, Atomic Power Development Associates (APDA) produced the “Summary of the APDA Fuel Development Programs.” Chapter XVII described a paste fuel concept. The report noted that there are “advantages inherent in a mobile-fueled reactor.” Patent number 3,169,117, entitled “Nuclear Reactor Paste Fuel Composition,” was issued on May 9, 1961. In May 1964, Argonne National Laboratory produced the “Catalog of Nuclear Reactor Concepts.” The chapter concerning paste fuels concluded: “The few paste-fuel concepts developed to date and the present early stages of such developments show that considerably more work probably will be required before the paste-fuel concept can be considered for commercial development.” This monograph enlarges upon and quantifies the APDA concept, which appears not to have been pursued. Additional passive safety concepts that might also eliminate the need for control assemblies are described. Several important consequences of continuously processed fuel that are not discussed in the APDA report are described in this paper, in particular, that the “iodine pit” startup control instability can be eliminated.