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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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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.
Technical Session|Sponsored by RPD
Wednesday, June 14, 2023|3:15–5:00PM EDT|Michigan/Texas
Session Chair:
Carlo Fiorina
Alternate Chair:
Pavel V. Tsvetkov
Session Organizer:
Massimiliano Fratoni
To access paper attachments, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
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OpenFSAM: An Open Source Simulated Annealing Module
3:15–3:35PM EDT
Nicholas F. Herring (NCSU), Yousry Y. Azmy (NCSU)
Paper
Presentation Slides (Visible to Attendees) — OpenFSAM
Optimization of Light Water Reactor Core Design Using a Genetic Algorithm in the RAVEN Framework
3:35–3:55PM EDT
Khang Nguyen (NCSU), Jason Hou (NCSU), Mohammad G. Abdo (INL), Junyung Kim (INL), Congjian Wang (INL), Yong-Joon Choi (INL)
SFR versus LFR Fuel Cycle Cost Comparison
3:55–4:15PM EDT
Khaldoon A. Al-Dawood (NCSU), Scott P. Palmtag (NCSU)
Coupling of Python Optimization Library mlrose and SIMULATE-3 for SMR Core Design
4:15–4:35PM EDT
Noah M. Marks (Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville), G. Ivan Maldonado (Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville)
Pin Power Calculation on BWR Colorset with Machine-Learning-Aided Reactor Physics Simulation
4:35–4:55PM EDT
M.R. Oktavian (Purdue), J. Nistor (Blue Wave AI Labs), J.T. Gruenwald (Blue Wave AI Labs), Y. Xu (Purdue)
