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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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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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Fusion Science and Technology
November 2024
Latest News
Fighting fatigue and maintaining 10 CFR Part 26 compliance
Fatigue has been identified as a major risk factor in industrial accidents. According to the National Safety Council, 13 percent of workplace injuries can be attributed to fatigue.1 Other research indicates that working 12 hours per day is associated with a staggering 37 percent increase in risk of injury.2 Considering fatigue was a contributing factor to major nuclear accidents at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island, it makes sense that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission imposes hefty fines to ensure strict adherence to its fatigue management regulations—particularly, Code of Federal Regulations Title 10, Part 26, “Fitness for Duty Programs.”
Suhas Bhandarkar, Jim Fair, Ben Haid, Evan Mapoles, Jeff Atherton, Cliff Thomas, John Moody, Jeremy Kroll, Abbas Nikroo
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 73 | Number 3 | April 2018 | Pages 380-391
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2017.1406249
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Early shots on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) were plagued by the buildup of a considerable mass of extraneous ice on the laser entry hole (LEH) windows, a consequence of condensation of the residual air. This resulted in higher than desired temperatures at the LEH, which combined with the variability of the ice thickness made this a problem that needed a robust solution. In this paper, we describe our work in designing a second thin film that shielded the LEH window from the contaminating ice. The detailed cryogenic considerations required to ensure the proper functioning of this new window were simulated and verified experimentally. The data from numerous subsequent shots showed marked improvement in performance, which made this feature an essential component for all cryogenic NIF targets.