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Division Spotlight
Nuclear Installations Safety
Devoted specifically to the safety of nuclear installations and the health and safety of the public, this division seeks a better understanding of the role of safety in the design, construction and operation of nuclear installation facilities. The division also promotes engineering and scientific technology advancement associated with the safety of such facilities.
Meeting Spotlight
Conference on Nuclear Training and Education: A Biennial International Forum (CONTE 2025)
February 3–6, 2025
Amelia Island, FL|Omni Amelia Island Resort
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
Wyoming OKs construction of TerraPower’s Natrium plant
Progress continues for TerraPower’s Natrium plant, with the latest win coming in the form of a state permit for construction of nonnuclear portions of the advanced reactor.
D. D. Ebert, W. B. Terney, E. A. Williamson, Jr., N. R. Gomm
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 69 | Number 3 | March 1979 | Pages 398-410
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE79-A19958
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A method for developing maneuvering control strategies using optimal control theory is presented. A computer code, OPXENON, based on Pontryagin's Principle, has been written, tested, and applied to maneuvering control problems. It uses modified one-group diffusion theory with Doppler and moderator feedback, and is able to handle up to 20 mesh points in one dimension and 100 time steps. The neutronics have been verified by comparison with standard maneuvering codes, and the Euler-Lagrange solution has been verified by comparison to known optimization results. Convergence to the optimal or near-optimal control is obtained within a few iterations. The code is particularly useful when there are several conflicting performance criteria. It has been applied to the problem of minimizing the boron interchange during a pressurized water reactor maneuver while maintaining acceptable shapes.