Frontiers in Energy Research (Jan 2023)
The National Criticality Experiments Research Center and its role in support of advanced reactor design
- Nicholas W. Thompson,
- Alexis Maldonado,
- Theresa E. Cutler,
- Holly R. Trellue,
- Kelsey M. Amundson,
- Venkateswara Rao Dasari,
- Joetta M. Goda,
- Travis J. Grove,
- David K. Hayes,
- Jesson D. Hutchinson,
- Hadyn M. Kistle,
- Cole M. Kostelac,
- Juliann R. Lamproe,
- Christopher Matthews,
- George McKenzie,
- Garrett E. McMath,
- Alexander T. McSpaden,
- Rene G. Sanchez,
- Kristin N. Stolte,
- Jessie L. Walker,
- Robert Weldon,
- Nicholas H. Whitman
Affiliations
- Nicholas W. Thompson
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation, Advanced Nuclear Technology (NEN-2), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Alexis Maldonado
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation Systems Design and Analysis (NEN-5), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Theresa E. Cutler
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation, Advanced Nuclear Technology (NEN-2), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Holly R. Trellue
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation Systems Design and Analysis (NEN-5), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Kelsey M. Amundson
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation, Advanced Nuclear Technology (NEN-2), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Venkateswara Rao Dasari
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Civilian Nuclear Programs, Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Joetta M. Goda
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation, Advanced Nuclear Technology (NEN-2), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Travis J. Grove
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation, Advanced Nuclear Technology (NEN-2), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- David K. Hayes
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation, Advanced Nuclear Technology (NEN-2), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Jesson D. Hutchinson
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation, Advanced Nuclear Technology (NEN-2), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Hadyn M. Kistle
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation, Advanced Nuclear Technology (NEN-2), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Cole M. Kostelac
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation, Advanced Nuclear Technology (NEN-2), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Juliann R. Lamproe
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation, Advanced Nuclear Technology (NEN-2), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Christopher Matthews
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Materials Science and Technology, Materials Science in Radiation and Dynamics Extremes (MST-8), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- George McKenzie
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation, Advanced Nuclear Technology (NEN-2), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Garrett E. McMath
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation, Advanced Nuclear Technology (NEN-2), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Alexander T. McSpaden
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation, Advanced Nuclear Technology (NEN-2), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Rene G. Sanchez
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation, Advanced Nuclear Technology (NEN-2), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Kristin N. Stolte
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation, Advanced Nuclear Technology (NEN-2), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Jessie L. Walker
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation, Advanced Nuclear Technology (NEN-2), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Robert Weldon
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation, Advanced Nuclear Technology (NEN-2), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- Nicholas H. Whitman
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation, Advanced Nuclear Technology (NEN-2), Los Alamos, NM, United States
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2022.1082389
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 10
Abstract
The National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC) located at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) in the Device Assembly Facility (DAF) and operated by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is the only general purpose critical experiments facility in the United States. Experiments from subcritical to critical and above prompt critical are carried out at NCERC on a regular basis. In recent years, NCERC has become more involved in experiments related to nuclear energy, including the Kilopower/KRUSTY demonstration and the recent Hypatia experiment. Multiple nuclear energy related projects are currently ongoing at NCERC. This paper discusses NCERC’s role in advanced reactor design and how that role may change in the future.
Keywords
