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Division Spotlight
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.
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
Framatome signs contracts with Sizewell C
French nuclear developer Framatome is slated to deliver key equipment for Sizewell C Ltd.’s two large reactors planned for the United Kingdom’s Suffolk coast.
The agreement, reportedly worth multiple billions of euros, was announced this week and will involve Framatome from the design phase until commissioning. The company also agreed to a long-term fuel supply deal. Framatome is 80.5 percent owned by France’s EDF and 19.5 percent owned by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Jorge V. Carvajal, Shawn C. Stafford, Michael D. Heibel, Paul M. Sirianni, Melissa M. Heagy, Robert W. Flammang, Nicola G. Arlia (Westinghouse), James A. Turso, Kenan Unlu (Penn State)
Proceedings | Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technolgies (NPIC&HMIT 2019) | Orlando, FL, February 9-14, 2019 | Pages 246-257
This paper describes the development of radiation and temperature tolerant electronics capable of functioning inside an operating nuclear reactor vessel. The technology will enable every fuel assembly in a commercial reactor to be instrumented with self-powered neutron detectors (SPND) at different axial locations. Thermocouples for measuring the reactor coolant temperature may also be installed in every fuel assembly, as will an associated vacuum microelectronic (VME) wireless transmitter to continuously broadcast the signals from the SPND and/or thermocouples to a single receiving antenna inside the reactor vessel that will route the signal out of the reactor vessel. The successful development of this technology would enable key operating parameters of every fuel assembly in a commercial reactor core to be continuously monitored. The increase in reactor power distribution measurement density relative to existing densities, where roughly onethird of the fuel assemblies are instrumented, will significantly reduce the uncertainty in the measured core peaking factors. Reducing the uncertainty in the measured core peaking factors will allow the core operating power levels to be increased. This result will, in turn, allow the reactor to generate more electrical power from the same amount of fuel, operate at the same electrical output power level for longer periods before refueling with the same amount of fuel, or generate the same amount of electricity from less fuel.