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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.
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2024 ANS Winter Conference and Expo
November 17–21, 2024
Orlando, FL|Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
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
New laws offer nuclear industry incentives for existing power plant uprates
This year, the U.S. nuclear industry received a much-needed economic boost that could help preserve operating nuclear power plants and incentivize upgrades that extend their lifespan and power output.
Signed into law in 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act offers production tax credits (PTCs) for existing nuclear power plants and either PTCs or investment tax credits (ITCs) for new carbon-free generation. These credits could make power uprates—increasing the maximum power level at which a commercial plant may operate—a much more appealing option for utilities.
M. N. Moore
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 3 | Number 4 | April 1958 | Pages 387-394
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE58-A25476
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Upon application of the theory of stochastic processes to reactor kinetics, it is possible to show that the square of the modulus of the reactor transfer function is proportional to the Fourier transform of the autocorrelation function for power noise in the reactor. Since the power noise represents the response to the minimum power input signal, measurements of transfer functions based upon reactor noise are of all possible measurements, least subject to nonlinear distortion. By performing the experiment at various power levels and temperatures, it is possible to measure both power and temperature coefficients. If the reactor is periodically monitored during its operation, long term changes can also be measured.