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Researchers at ORNL developed new experimental methods to measure how uranium-bearing molten salts conduct heat and flow, providing critical data for advancing molten salt reactor technologies. Using specialized tools developed at ORNL, the team generated unique thermal conductivity and viscosity data that will help improve reactor models, support licensing efforts, and expand the Molten Salt Thermal Properties Database.
The 2026 Fuel Economy Guide from the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency shows that fuel costs depend on more than a vehicle’s make and model, including driving habits and maintenance. It notes that speeding, rapid acceleration and hard braking reduce fuel efficiency, while smoother driving can save money. The guide also helps consumers compare fuel-efficient gasoline, diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles.
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are developing AI-enabled pixel detectors that can analyze particle-collision data directly at the source. The approach could help particle-physics experiments identify and capture the most important signals from the enormous amounts of data modern accelerators produce, helping scientists make faster, more informed discoveries from some of the world’s most complex experiments.
As the U.S. reimagines its nuclear future, researchers at ORNL are experimenting with molten lead and next-generation materials to reinvent a classic reactor design for a new era of innovation. To evaluate the alloy’s performance in these conditions, researchers are testing AFA samples in eight small rabbit capsules encased in solid lead in ORNL’s High Flux Isotope Reactor.
ORNL received more than $5 million from DOE;s Technology Commercialization Fund to advance research in grid security, artificial intelligence, nuclear energy and advanced manufacturing, helping move lab innovations toward industry use.
Researchers at ORNL have captured first-of-a-kind optical measurements during accident testing of commercially irradiated nuclear fuel cladding. Using a technique called digital image correlation, the test captured detailed measurements of the cladding’s behavior during a simulated loss-of-coolant accident.
Researchers at ORNL used computer models to study whether abandoned coal mines could be turned into underground systems that store energy by pumping water.
A new approach to nuclear fuel developed at ORNL could enhance the performance of new light water nuclear reactors. The Uranium Dioxide Liquid Metal Suspension (ULIMES) fuel concept offers a next step for fuel innovation.
Experiments conducted between 2002 and 2012 at ORNL studied 31 tin isotopes with varying numbers of neutrons to examine how neutrons affect nuclear stability and nuclear properties. The combined results contributed to identifying tin-132 as a doubly magic nucleus and improved theoretical models of nuclear structure.
In collaboration with the University of Tennessee and GE Vernova Hitachi, researchers at ORNL recently published innovative research on a new risk-informed digital twin designed to enhance operational decision-making for the GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 SMR design.