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Nuclear Criticality Safety
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.
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.
Pedro Trueba-Alonso, Cristina Corrales-Quirós, Julio Méndez-Salguero, Luís Rejas-López (Tecnatom S.A.)
Proceedings | Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technolgies (NPIC&HMIT 2019) | Orlando, FL, February 9-14, 2019 | Pages 1053-1067
Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) have been traditionally operated from Main Control Rooms (MCR) and Local Control Stations (LCS) using analog technology with hardwired indications, controls and alarms in spatially dedicated in stand-up panels and consoles. The modernization programs in existing nuclear power plants have been changing the way to operate the Human System Interfaces (HSIs) of these MCR and LCS during the past 20 years, with the use of digital technology for Human System Interfaces (HSIs). These control rooms are now known as hybrid control rooms. Without changing the actual layout of the existing MCRs, the operation philosophy is evolving in hybrid control rooms in two directions: • To sit-down consoles, where the operator, can monitor the majority of plant systems and operate relevant plant information without the need of moving, using visual display units (VDUs). • To screens in the existing panels, where the traditional analog components are replaced with screens (touch screens or operated with trackball). This paper will show experience gained in examples of design modifications where Tecnatom has been working in design and verification and validations, where they way to operate HSIs has varied in some way. The implementation of design modifications is a non-stopping modernization process due to obsolescence of the existing Instrumentation and Control (I&C), HSI and lack of spare parts. In this way, the typical design modifications being implemented in plants with the participation of Tecnatom and focused in the MCR will be described.
