Our Capabilities
Our demonstrated track-record provides a comprehensive cycle-wide experience base that positions NSTS as a ‘go-to’ company for nuclear design and safety analysis projects. An overview of our capabilities is provided below and may be downloaded here.
NSTS is engaged in start-of-the-art nuclear technology projects that follow two business lines; the development and deployment of new nuclear technologies, and the continued safe and efficient operation of existing nuclear facilities. Our new technology projects include the design and licensing of next generation small modular reactor nuclear power plants, as well as advanced mixed-oxide fuel fabrication facilities. We also support operational facilities in addition to legacy nuclear facilities through first-of-a-kind decommissioning and remediation projects.
Packaging and Transportation Analysis
We have extensive experience supporting the design and safety analysis of transportation packages for commercial fresh LWR fuel as well as spent LWR fuel and advanced nuclear fuels for experimental and test reactors. Our experience in these areas extends not only to domestic transportation package design and licensing but also to design and licensing of transportation packages for foreign companies under their specific regulations
Germane to our packaging and transportation analysis experience are the shielding and criticality evaluations that must be performed and documented as part of the Safety Analysis Report. We have successfully developed and applied methodology that satisfies the many specific regulatory requirements.
Front-End Nuclear Fuel Cycle Services
Our front-end nuclear cycle services include safety analyses associated with fuel manufacturing operations. We have performed extensive criticality safety calculations and evaluations for operations at the majority of fuel fabrication facilities in the United States as well as facilities in the United Kingdom. We have also supported the design and analysis of advanced nuclear fuel designs.
Reactor Core Design and Safety Analysis
Next generation nuclear power plants being developed today use advanced designs and safety features that afford high levels of safety and improved economics compared with previous designs.
NSTS is well positioned to support the development and deployment of the next generation reactors, having supported licensing activities for the first new generation power plants abroad.
Our capabilities in this area include:
- Reactor core design
- Reactor safety analysis
- Radiation protection and shielding
- Risk and consequence analysis
- Severe accident analysis
More recently, NSTS has supported the design and licensing of small modular reactors which represent an exciting new dimension for the commercial nuclear power industry, with unparalleled levels of safety and sound economics. NSTS is currently providing key support to a private company seeking the first-of-its-kind license application for a small modular nuclear power plant in the United States.
Dry Storage Analysis
One of the challenges for the existing fleet today is spent fuel storage.
Recent events in the industry have highlighted the benefits of dry storage, which represents a more robust interim spent fuel storage solution than spent fuel pools. NSTS also has experience in this area, having evaluated and analyzed many of the commercially available spent fuel dry storage casks currently in use.
Back-End Fuel Cycle Services
NSTS has experience in the design and safety analysis of back-end fuel cycle technologies including PUREX reprocessing, and intermediate and low level waste processing, interim storage and disposal. NSTS also offers technical capabilities and experience concerning the permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel and highly active waste in a deep geologic repository.
Decontamination, Decommissioning & Site Remediation
NSTS has considerable experience in the area of facility decommissioning, decontamination, demolition and site remediation, which often present unique challenges. NSTS has developed successful site decommissioning and remediation plans and associated nuclear safety programs to facilitate the safe, environmentally sound, and efficient restoration of decommissioned nuclear sites.