ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
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
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!
Latest Magazine Issues
Aug 2024
Jan 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
October 2024
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
August 2024
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.
S. A. W. Gerstl, Donald J. Dudziak, D. W. Muir
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 62 | Number 1 | January 1977 | Pages 137-156
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE77-A26945
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A computational method to determine cross-section requirements quantitatively is described and applied to the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR). To provide a rational basis for the priorities assigned to new cross-section measurements or evaluations, this method includes 1. quantitative estimates of the uncertainty of currently available data 2. the sensitivity of important nuclear design parameters to selected cross sections 3. the accuracy desired in predicting nuclear design parameters. Perturbation theory is used to combine estimated cross-section uncertainties with calculated sensitivities to determine the variance of any nuclear design parameter of interest. The paper extends the theory for cross-section sensitivity and uncertainty analysis and gives formulas for convenient upper-limit estimates for the variance of integral design parameters due to estimated cross-section uncertainties. The application to the TFTR activation analysis predicts an upper limit for the uncertainty of the calculated personnel dose rate from activated reactor components of∼45% due to all estimated cross-section errors. Since this upper limit is within the accuracy requirement of ≤50% for the calculated maximum allowable personnel dose rate, it is concluded that all nuclear data used for the TFTR activation analysis are adequate in this application.