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Aerospace Nuclear Science & Technology
Organized to promote the advancement of knowledge in the use of nuclear science and technologies in the aerospace application. Specialized nuclear-based technologies and applications are needed to advance the state-of-the-art in aerospace design, engineering and operations to explore planetary bodies in our solar system and beyond, plus enhance the safety of air travel, especially high speed air travel. Areas of interest will include but are not limited to the creation of nuclear-based power and propulsion systems, multifunctional materials to protect humans and electronic components from atmospheric, space, and nuclear power system radiation, human factor strategies for the safety and reliable operation of nuclear power and propulsion plants by non-specialized personnel and more.
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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Smarter waste strategies: Helping deliver on the promise of advanced nuclear
At COP28, held in Dubai in 2023, a clear consensus emerged: Nuclear energy must be a cornerstone of the global clean energy transition. With electricity demand projected to soar as we decarbonize not just power but also industry, transport, and heat, the case for new nuclear is compelling. More than 20 countries committed to tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050. In the United States alone, the Department of Energy forecasts that the country’s current nuclear capacity could more than triple, adding 200 GW of new nuclear to the existing 95 GW by mid-century.
Rajeev Kohli, John S. (Sid) Alvis (Enercon), invited
Proceedings | Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technolgies (NPIC&HMIT 2019) | Orlando, FL, February 9-14, 2019 | Pages 357-366
The majority of instrumentation and controls (I&C) used in commercial nuclear power plants (NPP) were originally designed using older 1970s era analog-based technology. As the plants continue to age, analog-based controls have become obsolete and are no longer supported by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). As technology evolved, OEMs have transitioned to modern software/firmware-based digital controls. This has left NPP owners with few alternatives other than to upgrade their systems using modern digital I&C technology. Digital systems present a different set of issues than analog-based systems. Among them include their vulnerability to malicious cyber security attacks that could compromise the integrity of the I&C system, and the challenge of protecting them from such attacks. The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), and the cyber security working group are working to address the cyber security issues in the digital systems. The NRC published a set of cyber security standards for the industry to follow. NEI published guidelines to implement the NRC cyber security standards. The NRC has endorsed NEI published guidelines. The nuclear industry is following these guidelines to implement cyber security to comply with NRC and Department of Energy regulations. Prior to terrorist’s attacks of 9/11, the nuclear industry gave little consideration to cyber security when implementing digital upgrades to I&C systems at NPPs. In general, cyber security was considered only a function of information technology (IT) and not a plant engineering function. Most commercial grade cyber security products are oriented to IT specific applications and have not been developed to protect modern digital I&C applications used in NPPs. Back fitting cyber security to address plant I&C systems without impeding functionality presents a huge challenge. Digital equipment is relied on now more than ever for plant operation, and as the use of digital equipment increases, so does the frequency of cyber-attack and risk of compromise. The nuclear power industry had to overcome multiple challenges during the creation and application of regulatory requirements and standards to address cyber security risks and vulnerabilities when applying IT based cyber security technology to NPPs digital instrumentation and controls. Among these include: 1) clarifying/translating the IT based cyber security standards to nuclear industry; 2) realizing the full scope of critical digital components; 3) documenting the configuration of digital plant equipment; 4) employing alternate methods to achieve compliance; 5) training/hiring staff to adequately implement the program; 6) obtaining organizational concurrence. This paper addresses the challenges that applied to the phased in approach the nuclear power industry faced to implement cyber security requirements applicable to digital I&C systems and components.