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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|Technology Research and Development
Thursday, April 30, 2026|10:10–11:30AM EDT|Room 302/303/304
Session Chair:
Greeta Thaikattil
Alternate Chair:
Corey Smith
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High-Temperature Heat Pipe System for Stirling-Based Fission Surface Power
10:10–10:30AM EDT
Jeffrey Diebold (Advanced Cooling Technologies), Sandeep Hatte (Advanced Cooling Technologies), Brett Leitherer (Advanced Cooling Technologies), Calin Tarau (Advanced Cooling Technologies), Srujan Rokkam (Advanced Cooling Technologies), Jeffrey Hopkins (Intuitive Machines)
Paper
Experimental Study on Liquid Entrainment Limit in Capillary Heat Pipes for Space Reactors: Preliminary Results
10:30–10:50AM EDT
Yohan Kim (Kyung Hee Univ.), Hyungdae Kim (Kyung Hee Univ.)
A Reduced-Order Thermal-Structural-Neutronics Model for KRUSTY-Style Fission Surface Power with Heat-Pipe Constraints
10:50–11:10AM EDT
Vishnu Reddy (Georgia Tech), Corey Smith (Georgia Tech), Dan Kotlyar (Georgia Tech)
High-Temperature Heat Pipes for Solid-State SPAR Reactor
11:10–11:30AM EDT
Brett Leitherer (Advanced Cooling Technologies), Mason Pratt (Advanced Cooling Technologies), Jeffrey Diebold (Advanced Cooling Technologies), Calin Tarau (Advanced Cooling Technologies), Srujan Rokkam (Advanced Cooling Technologies)
