AUTHOR=Thompson Nicholas W. , Maldonado Alexis , Cutler Theresa E. , Trellue Holly R. , Amundson Kelsey M. , Rao Dasari Venkateswara , Goda Joetta M. , Grove Travis J. , Hayes David K. , Hutchinson Jesson D. , Kistle Hadyn M. , Kostelac Cole M. , Lamproe Juliann R. , Matthews Christopher , McKenzie George , McMath Garrett E. , McSpaden Alexander T. , Sanchez Rene G. , Stolte Kristin N. , Walker Jessie L. , Weldon Robert , Whitman Nicholas H. 

TITLE=The National Criticality Experiments Research Center and its role in support of advanced reactor design

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Energy Research

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/energy-research/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2022.1082389

DOI=10.3389/fenrg.2022.1082389

ISSN=2296-598X

ABSTRACT=<p>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.</p>