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Division Spotlight
Nuclear Criticality Safety
NCSD provides communication among nuclear criticality safety professionals through the development of standards, the evolution of training methods and materials, the presentation of technical data and procedures, and the creation of specialty publications. In these ways, the division furthers the exchange of technical information on nuclear criticality safety with the ultimate goal of promoting the safe handling of fissionable materials outside reactors.
Meeting Spotlight
ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
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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February 2025
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Colin Judge: Testing structural materials in Idaho’s newest hot cell facility
Idaho National Laboratory’s newest facility—the Sample Preparation Laboratory (SPL)—sits across the road from the Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HFEF), which started operating in 1975. SPL will host the first new hot cells at INL’s Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) in 50 years, giving INL researchers and partners new flexibility to test the structural properties of irradiated materials fresh from the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) or from a partner’s facility.
Materials meant to withstand extreme conditions in fission or fusion power plants must be tested under similar conditions and pushed past their breaking points so performance and limitations can be understood and improved. Once irradiated, materials samples can be cut down to size in SPL and packaged for testing in other facilities at INL or other national laboratories, commercial labs, or universities. But they can also be subjected to extreme thermal or corrosive conditions and mechanical testing right in SPL, explains Colin Judge, who, as INL’s division director for nuclear materials performance, oversees SPL and other facilities at the MFC.
SPL won’t go “hot” until January 2026, but Judge spoke with NN staff writer Susan Gallier about its capabilities as his team was moving instruments into the new facility.
Educational Session|Panel|Sponsored by Workforce Development
Tuesday, August 10, 2021|10:30AM–5:00PM EDT |Calusa 1-3
Track Organizers:
David Heler (Nuclear Human Resources Group/Accelerant)
Doug Henderson (Accelerant Tech)
Jason Lanier (Duke Energy)
Knowledge Manager:
Greg Swain (Duke Energy)
Learning Methods – 1030-1200 Remote Training and Exam Proctoring – 1330-1500 Operator Remote Monitoring – 1530-1700 Learning Methods: This session is about learning methods, including some recent cognitive psychology findings, and we will show how a virtual training product could be used to harness different learning methods and tap into adult learning preferences. Remote Training and Exam Proctoring: This is a facilitated session for participants to engage with each other on the lessons learned to date on the successes and shortfalls associated with the virtual implementation of training and oversight of student evaluations. Operator Remote Monitoring: This session will provide information on how Duke Energy is currently using innovative devices to automate some of the data collection during operator rounds. This session will highlight the use of wireless gauge readers, video cameras, and other technologies and methods to enable operators to monitor the plant more effectively and efficiently. We will discuss how these technologies and methods can work, how they can be installed and calibrated, and how the data can be used by operators to develop better plant control and monitoring practices. The session will include time for participants to ask questions, share experiences, and discuss innovative solutions they are pursuing to optimize operator control and monitoring of plant equipment.
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