Articles tagged with Reactor Safety
A University of Manchester Professor has been appointed as an Expert Reviewer for the NDA 2026 Review, led by Dr Tim Stone CBE. The review assesses the NDA's strategic planning, project delivery, and financial management to ensure value for money and highest safety standards.
Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology found that liquid lead forms an ultrathin film on steel surfaces, driving rapid dissolution and corrosion. The study suggests combining different types of steel to achieve long-lasting protection for next-generation reactors.
A new study by MIT researchers and their collaborators at national laboratories quantifies I-129 release under three different scenarios: direct disposal in deep underground repositories, dilution and release, and filters to capture I-129. France's practice of reprocessing releases 90% of I-129 into the biosphere, while U.S. approach l...
Researchers developed a technique to monitor corrosion and cracking in nuclear reactors using real-time 3D imaging. By directly imaging material failure processes, scientists can design safer reactors that deliver higher performance.
A £13m UK university consortium is developing sustainable technologies for advanced modular reactors, aiming to secure the UK's position in nuclear innovation. The ENLIGHT programme will address key challenges, including sovereign supply of nuclear graphite and managing irradiated waste.
Researchers developed an advanced microscopic method to map residual stress in ultra-narrow weld zones, revealing the impact on P91 steel's strength and brittleness. The findings provide critical insights for designing safer and longer-lasting fusion energy systems.
Researchers developed a coupled system model for liquid-fueled molten salt reactors, incorporating xenon and void transport. The validated model reveals how initiating events affect reactor safety and offers insights for future reactor designs.
A novel machine learning-driven approach uses deep-learning operator-surrogate models to monitor critical degradation indicators in nuclear power facilities. This technique provides real-time predictions and addresses limitations of physical sensors or classical modeling predictions.
Argonne will support two projects in Ukraine under the DOS NEXT initiative, focusing on clean hydrogen power and rebuilding the steel industry. The project aims to provide energy security and resiliency benefits for clean steel production in post-war Ukraine.
A team from Tokyo Institute of Technology has developed a method to remotely monitor nuclear reactors using antineutrinos. The approach, published in the Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, could help prevent the manufacturing of materials for nuclear weapons.
University of Houston researchers create sensitive and reliable sensors for harsh conditions, operating up to 900 degrees Celsius. The sensors, made from flexible ultrawide-bandgap single-crystalline AlN thin films, offer advantages for applications in nuclear plants, neutron exposure, and wearable health care monitoring.
A German junior research group, RIMANUS, has been awarded €1.28 million to focus on refining imaging processes and monitoring nuclear fuels. The team aims to enhance reactor safety by developing non-invasive testing methods using cosmic-ray muons to inspect spent nuclear fuel storage containers.
Polymers in cable insulation gradually lose their insulating properties due to radiation defects, leading to reduced electrical resistance. A hand-held hardness tester can detect proper insulation by measuring the hardness of the cable insulation.
The U.S. Department of Energy has renewed funding for a research center studying molten salts, which have potential applications in improving the safety and efficiency of nuclear power. The center, led by Brookhaven National Laboratory, will receive $13.3 million over four years to advance our understanding of molten salt properties.
Researchers have designed a novel thermal armour that successfully inhibits the Leidenfrost effect up to 1,150°C and achieves efficient liquid cooling across a wide temperature range. The breakthrough has significant implications for applications in aerospace, space engineering, and next-generation nuclear reactors.
A team of researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign used advanced machine learning to model the physico-chemical properties of a molten salt compound called FLiNaK, enabling accurate atomic-scale reproduction and prediction of behavior under specific reactor conditions. This computational framework can help character...
A new computational model has been developed to predict the physical phenomenon inside very-high-temperature pebble-bed reactors. The model can accurately account for friction between fuel pebbles and its influence on cooling, allowing for safer and more efficient operation.
The Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory is collaborating with industry on six new projects focused on advancing commercial nuclear energy technologies. These projects aim to improve current nuclear reactors and move new reactor designs closer to deployment.
A new MIT study highlights the importance of nuclear energy in achieving deep carbon emissions reductions. The authors propose new policy models and cost-cutting technologies to make nuclear a vital component of low-carbon energy solutions.
Researchers advise caution on new pebble-bed nuclear reactors due to potential for accidents and inadequate safety measures. The design lacks key safeguards, including a high-pressure containment structure and redundant cooling system, increasing the risk of radioactive material release.
Researchers at ORNL will support two new DOE-funded projects exploring advanced nuclear reactor technologies, including molten chloride fast reactors and pebble bed high-temperature gas-cooled reactors.
Kansas State University has upgraded its nuclear reactor control console with a new system funded by a $1.5 million grant from the US Department of Energy. The upgrade will improve compatibility with current equipment and enable researchers to access data more easily for lab experiments.
A £1 million project at the University of Huddersfield will provide scientific data for safe and reliable nuclear reactors. The research will investigate radiation damage on materials, addressing the UK's shortage of nuclear scientists.
Argonne is developing advanced simulation tools called SHARP to validate new nuclear technologies and reduce waste, with the goal of closing the nuclear fuel cycle and reducing proliferation risk. The lab's work aims to optimize reactor design and safety using high-speed supercomputers.
Researchers will create detailed computer models of a new proposed type of nuclear reactor, the sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR), which can burn highly radioactive materials and operate without using new fuel. The project aims to improve understanding of the physics of the system to design safer reactors.
Nine new projects and four renewals have been awarded large amounts of time on IBM Blue Gene/L systems at Argonne National Laboratory through the DOE INCITE program. Researchers will investigate topics such as protein structure prediction, foam formation, and nanoscale light manipulation to advance materials science and computing.
The Idaho National Laboratory's (INEL) RELAP5-3D training module aims to enhance nuclear reactor safety worldwide. The five-DVD set includes a Russian translation, allowing students in countries like Slovakia and Lithuania to develop independent safety thinking.
A team of experts from Purdue University and other universities will develop computer programs to simulate advanced nuclear reactors. The research aims to investigate thermal-hydraulics and reactor safety under various conditions.
Researchers propose a colliding beam fusion reactor fueled by protons and boron, reducing radioactivity and environmental impact. The new design could replace all gas-powered plants worldwide with minimal greenhouse gas emissions.