Talk:Nuclear criticality safety

This page could use some more information, for example, no where does it mention ANSI/ANS8 standards which plays a big role in Criticality Safety. Should really quote word by word from ANSI/ANS8.1 standard 4.1.2 Process Analysis "Before a new operation with fissionable material is begun, or before an existing operation is changed, it shall be determined that the entire process will be subcritical under both normal and credible abnormal conditions." This sentence shall be hammer into the memory of a Criticality Safety Engineer. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.12.184.6 (talk) 00:01, 6 February 2013 (UTC) RELAP5-3D is mainly a hydraulics code. In terms of Criticality Safety, the main ones are MCNP(5/X) and KENO.

It sure could... I've started a little tidying and polishing tonight. Just done the "MERMAIDS / MAGIC MERV" thing on the factors affecting criticality section.Knobeeoldben (talk) 20:25, 5 March 2014 (UTC)

I also updated the MONK reference to point to the AMEC ANSWERS website. Knobeeoldben (talk) 21:02, 5 March 2014 (UTC)

The discussion of double contingency principal needs to be updated. As such, it is only a technical practice, rising to the same level as other technical practices, such as geometry control, neutron absorbers, moderations, etc. It does not raise to the level of the only requirement, which is the Process Analysis requirement. The over-emphasis and the misuse of the concept by criticality safety practitioners at different laboratories/commercial industries over the years has made any reasonable discussion of such nearly impossible. The latest ANSI/ANS-8.1-2014 Appendix B has done a fairly good job at explaining the connection between the two terms; one being the "Process Analysis requirement" and the other being "Double-contingency principle".

The concept of the "Double-contingency principle" and all of its glorious misuse has been recognized by the founding fathers of criticality safety, as documented in the "Nuclear Criiticality: Heritage Video Conference 2000" a joint effort between Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Los Alamos National Laboratory. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.12.184.7 (talk) 16:16, 11 January 2017 (UTC)