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Division Spotlight
Isotopes & Radiation
Members are devoted to applying nuclear science and engineering technologies involving isotopes, radiation applications, and associated equipment in scientific research, development, and industrial processes. Their interests lie primarily in education, industrial uses, biology, medicine, and health physics. Division committees include Analytical Applications of Isotopes and Radiation, Biology and Medicine, Radiation Applications, Radiation Sources and Detection, and Thermal Power Sources.
Meeting Spotlight
2025 ANS Annual Conference
June 15–18, 2025
Chicago, IL|Chicago Marriott 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!
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Latest News
Countering the nuclear workforce shortage narrative
James Chamberlain, director of the Nuclear, Utilities, and Energy Sector at Rullion, has declared that the nuclear industry will not have workforce challenges going forward. “It’s time to challenge the scarcity narrative,” he wrote in a recent online article. “Nuclear isn't short of talent; it’s short of imagination in how it attracts, trains, and supports the workforce of the future.”
B. R. Upadhyaya, M. Kitamura
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 77 | Number 4 | April 1981 | Pages 480-492
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE81-A18961
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A method of monitoring stability of boiling water reactors (BWRs) has been developed. The stability parameters were derived from empirical discrete-time modeling of process noise signals and neutron noise signals. Data were taken from an operating BWR-4, and used to perform univariate analysis of average power range monitor (APRM), and local power range monitor signals, and multivariate analysis of APRM and the process signals, reactor pressure, and core flow rate. The parameters such as decay ratio, damping ratio, and characteristic frequency of oscillation, which represent the system stability, were estimated from the impulse response of the system. The impulse response was determined by using the time series models and contains information about the closed loop dynamics of a BWR. The results indicate the feasibility of using APRM noise analysis for monitoring overall core stability and temporal variations in the stability margin of the reactor. Any significant variation in the stability parameters can be studied using multivariate noise signal algorithms, and cause and effect relationships can be obtained. Because the derived parameters depend on the random noise properties of the signals, this nonperturbing method is most useful for monitoring changes in stability. If an absolute measurement is necessary, a perturbation test must be performed.