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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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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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Latest News
El Salvador: Looking to nuclear
In 2022, El Salvador’s leadership decided to expand its modest, mostly hydro- and geothermal-based electricity system, which is supported by expensive imported natural gas and diesel generation. They chose to use advanced nuclear reactors, preferably fueled by thorium-based fuels, to power their civilian efforts. The choice of thorium was made to inform the world that the reactor program was for civilian purposes only, and so they chose a fuel that was plentiful, easy to source and work with, and not a proliferation risk.
Luciano Ondir Freire, Delvonei Alves de Andrade
Nuclear Technology | Volume 205 | Number 6 | June 2019 | Pages 766-780
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2018.1546067
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Recent studies point to a reduction of atmospheric pollution using nuclear energy for merchant ships. This work examines the development of an economically competitive nuclear power solution for merchant ship propulsion. The solution also addresses the requirements of a wider market, like islands, offshore oil platforms, and remote cities. System engineering and analysis at various product breakdown levels also propose architectural options to improve competitiveness of nuclear power in mobile nuclear power plants (MNPPs). Analyses include market research on clients and technical considerations on nuclear energy costs. The results show that an enterprise that delivers electric power to remote clients and dedicates to management of all nuclear aspects seems to be the best organizational and technical choice. Besides, ships should be of modular type and the MNPPs should be easily detachable at sea. Only container ships and remote islands demand enough power to justify the use of nuclear power. Nuclear power has high probability to be economically competitive for large container ships, however, only if public policies impose levels of risks akin to other industries.