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Conference Spotlight
2026 Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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
Seconds Matter: Rethinking Nuclear Facility Security for the Modern Threat Landscape
In today’s rapidly evolving threat environment, nuclear facilities must prioritize speed and precision in their security responses—because in critical moments, every second counts. An early warning system serves as a vital layer of defense, enabling real-time detection of potential intrusions or anomalies before they escalate into full-blown incidents. By providing immediate alerts and actionable intelligence, these systems empower security personnel to respond decisively, minimizing risk to infrastructure, personnel, and the public. The ability to anticipate and intercept threats at the earliest possible stage not only enhances operational resilience but also reinforces public trust in the safety of nuclear operations. Investing in such proactive technologies is no longer optional—it’s essential for modern nuclear security.
Hiroyuki Sato, Xing L. Yan, Yukio Tachibana, Kazuhiko Kunitomi, Yukitaka Kato
Nuclear Technology | Volume 185 | Number 3 | March 2014 | Pages 227-238
Technical Paper | Fission Reactors | doi.org/10.13182/NT13-97
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The transient response of the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) to depressurized loss of forced circulation combined with failure of all reactor trip systems, a beyond-design-basis accident, is analyzed for an extended period of time during which no active core cooling is resumed. The characteristic behavior of the reactor during the long-term conduction cooldown event is found to be shaped by several parameters that are usually not considered in the safety design of the HTGR. For example, while the Doppler effect is usually relied upon to provide inherent shutdown of the reactor, the reactivity coefficient of temperature of the graphite moderator is found to be a critical parameter for determining the final settling temperature of the fuel following the recriticality. Furthermore, this study finds that the peak fuel temperature reached during this event is correlated strongly even to the initial core operating temperature prior to the initiation of the transient event. These and other results of this study are expected to provide useful input to the development of enhanced safety design guidelines for commercial HTGRs in the aftermath of the Fukushima accident.