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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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Latest News
NRC issues subsequent license renewal to Monticello plant
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has renewed for a second time the operating license for Unit 1 of Minnesota’s Monticello nuclear power plant.
Sami Penttilä, Aki Toivonen, Liisa Heikinheimo, Radek Novotny
Nuclear Technology | Volume 170 | Number 1 | April 2010 | Pages 261-271
Technical Paper | Special Issue on the 2008 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants / Materials for Nuclear Systems | doi.org/10.13182/NT10-A9463
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The High Performance Light Water Reactor (HPLWR) design is one of the concepts chosen for Generation IV reactors; however, the material requirements for HPLWR offer challenges because of the extreme operating temperatures and pressures. Consequently, general corrosion rates were studied in water at 300 to 650°C at supercritical pressure using weight gain measurements. Oxide thicknesses were determined from cross-section samples. The compositions of the oxide layers were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy in conjuction with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The surface layers of selected samples were analyzed also by X-ray diffraction. The test matrix included ten materials from four alloy classes: ferritic/martensitic steels, oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steels, austenitic stainless steels, and nickel-base alloys. A high oxidation resistance was seen in Ni-base alloy 625, austenitic stainless steels with high Cr content (>18 wt% Cr), and an ODS steel containing 20% Cr at all applied test temperatures (300 to 650°C). The oxidation rates of austenitic stainless steels with lower Cr content, 15 to 18%, increase considerably at temperatures >500°C. The oxidation rates of 9% Cr ODS steels were moderate or high at all temperatures. Ferritic/martensitic steels showed high oxidation rates at all temperatures.