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
Accelerator Applications
The division was organized to promote the advancement of knowledge of the use of particle accelerator technologies for nuclear and other applications. It focuses on production of neutrons and other particles, utilization of these particles for scientific or industrial purposes, such as the production or destruction of radionuclides significant to energy, medicine, defense or other endeavors, as well as imaging and diagnostics.
Meeting Spotlight
International Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering (M&C 2025)
April 27–30, 2025
Denver, CO|The Westin Denver Downtown
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
Apr 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
June 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
May 2025
Latest News
Argonne’s METL gears up to test more sodium fast reactor components
Argonne National Laboratory has successfully swapped out an aging cold trap in the sodium test loop called METL (Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop), the Department of Energy announced April 23. The upgrade is the first of its kind in the United States in more than 30 years, according to the DOE, and will help test components and operations for the sodium-cooled fast reactors being developed now.
Educational Session|Panel|Sponsored by Risk Management
Tuesday, August 11, 2020|12:00–1:30PM EDT
Session Organizer:
Gene Kelly (Exelon)
Track Organizer:
Timothy Crook (MCR Group)
Knowledge Manager:
Robby Christian (INL)
There are substantial benefits and good reasons for incorporating and crediting FLEX equipment in industry PRA models, for all hazard types (not just seismic and external flooding). Reactor safety is improved by allowing operators the flexibility to use FLEX in a variety of scenarios - not just in beyond design basis external event scenarios, which are the subject of the previously issued Mitigation Strategies under Order EA-12-049. The benefits of crediting FLEX - both in procedures and in PRA models, and for risk applications (such as RICT and SDP cases) - outweigh any potential regulatory uncertainties. The NRC’s recent enforcement policy found in Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 0609 Appendix A was recently reconsidered for FLEX equipment deficiencies, both in how these are screened, and in how the cases would be quantified (i.e., which hazard models are used) when performing more detailed significance analysis. FLEX component reliabilities and associated deployment actions (HRA) are evolving and being closely studied and evaluated by industry and the NRC. In the meantime, our models should reasonably reflect the as-built/as-operated plant, as required by the ASME Standard and Regulatory Guide 1.200. The option to deploy FLEX strategies is an important defense in depth measure in any/all scenarios when an extended loss of power is present, and is an improvement in reactor safety. It’s acknowledgement in PRA models should not be discouraged or unduly challenged.
To access the session recording, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
Register NowLog In
To access session resources, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
Reference — FLEX Speaker Bios
Session Notes
There are 2 comments in this discussion.
To join the conversation, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.