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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
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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Christmas Night
Twas the night before Christmas when all through the houseNo electrons were flowing through even my mouse.
All devices were plugged in by the chimney with careWith the hope that St. Nikola Tesla would share.
Amitanshu Mishra, Paban Kumar Guchhait, Samiran Sengupta
Nuclear Technology | Volume 210 | Number 10 | October 2024 | Pages 1932-1951
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2024.2304915
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Simulation of a station blackout (SBO) scenario was carried out for an open pool–type nuclear research reactor. The SBO transient was analyzed using the best estimate (BE) thermal-hydraulic code RELAP5/MOD3.2 to evaluate the performance of safety systems and inherent thermal inertia provided by the reactor pool in ensuring adequate core cooling during a prolonged SBO condition lasting up to 7 days. This encompasses assessment of cooling provided by battery-operated auxiliary pumps in the initial phase followed by setup of the natural convection cooling mode for the extended period. Best Estimate Plus Uncertainty (BEPU) methodology was applied for assessment of safety margins. This involved estimation of required simulations using the Wilks first-order formulation to achieve results within the tolerance limit of 95/95. Identification of relevant uncertainties and their propagation was carried out; subsequently, a case matrix for 59 simulation runs was generated using the Latin hypercube sampling method. The upper/lower bounds of uncertainty results were analyzed and compared with the BE code results. Later, sensitivity analysis was carried out using sensitivity coefficients generated using the Pearson and Spearman coefficient. The results show that the values of the crucial thermal-hydraulic parameters obtained with the tolerance limit of 95/95 met the acceptance criteria, with adequate safety margins.