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Meeting Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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
The U.S. Million Person Study of Low-Dose-Rate Health Effects
There is a critical knowledge gap regarding the health consequences of exposure to radiation received gradually over time. While there is a plethora of studies on the risks of adverse outcomes from both acute and high-dose exposures, including the landmark study of atomic bomb survivors, these are not characteristic of the chronic exposure to low-dose radiation encountered in occupational and public settings. In addition, smaller cohorts have limited numbers leading to reduced statistical power.
Chad Kiger (AMS), Hrvoje Grganic (Nukearna Elektrana Krško)
Proceedings | Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technolgies (NPIC&HMIT 2019) | Orlando, FL, February 9-14, 2019 | Pages 1304-1310
The nuclear industry desires to implement wireless technology to improve communication efficiency, optimize maintenance, improve security, and add to plant safety and availability. Examples of wireless applications which are being targeted by nuclear power plants for efficiency gains are: 1) tablet based work orders and calibration procedures, 2) wireless access to plant engineering documentation, 3) voice communication anywhere in the plant, 4) temporary or permanent installation of wireless cameras, and 5) equipment condition monitoring using wireless sensors. Prior to implementation, nuclear power plants must resolve the electromagnetic and radio frequency (EMI/RFI) challenges for wireless devices to prevent interference with sensitive plant equipment. Traditionally, nuclear facilities have defined specific or generic exclusion zones where wireless devices cannot be used. In most cases, this has caused plants to prohibit the use of wireless devices in some entire rooms of the plant. Research performed by AMS determined that exclusion distances in almost all nuclear power plants are still overly conservative and thereby severely limit the use of wireless devices in many areas of the plant. Most of these exclusion distances are much larger than necessary and can be significantly reduced by using in-situ EMI/RFI testing techniques. The Krško nuclear power plant in Slovenia is evaluating the use of Wi-Fi devices to support plant operators in performing their daily rounds and other maintenance activities, including within the Main Control Room (MCR). The exclusion distances calculated for Wi-Fi devices would prevent them from being used within the MCR. For this reason, and because a majority of the older equipment did not have documented evidence of Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) qualification testing, Krško personnel chose to perform in-situ EMI/RFI testing of equipment throughout the plant including within the MCR. This paper will outline the project objectives, test methodologies, challenges that were encountered, and results of the testing activities.
