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The human factor in licensing and operating the next generation of nuclear plants
As human factors specialists working at the intersection of human performance and nuclear operations, we are witnessing one of the nuclear sector’s most significant transitions in decades. The emergence of small modular reactors, microreactors, and other advanced designs is reshaping the industry’s landscape. Digital instrumentation and controls, passive safety systems, and increased automation are creating opportunities for greater safety margins and more flexible operation. These same features also fundamentally redefine what it means to “operate” a nuclear plant. Interactions among human roles, automation, and passive systems shape how people maintain awareness, exercise judgment, and intervene when necessary. These developments affect both operational realities and the regulatory foundations on which nuclear safety is built.
J. C. Gascon, J. Hourtoule, I. Benfatto, S. Nair, J. Tao, J. Goff
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 61 | Number 1 | January 2012 | Pages 47-51
Fusion | Proceedings of the Fifteenth International Conference on Emerging Nuclear Energy Systems | doi.org/10.13182/FST12-A13395
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
ITER is a large-scale scientific experiment (presently under construction in Southern France) to demonstrate it is possible to produce commercial energy from nuclear fusion. In order to achieve nuclear fusion, ITER plant will be directly fed from the 400 kV French National Grid. The transmission grid will be able to provide up to 500 MW for pulsed loads (power converters) as well as 120 MW for continuous loads (auxiliaries systems) with total reactive power up to 200 Mvar demand from the pulsed loads and 48 Mvar from the continuous loads.This paper describes the specific electrical engineering studies performed to ensure the required levels of availability and to reach the required global reliability and availability of ITER project.