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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.
Educational Session|Panel|Sponsored by Plant Reliability
Tuesday, August 8, 2023|10:30AM–12:00PM EDT|Banyan 2
Knowledge Manager:
Cameron Khanpour
Data trends indicate that feedwater system performance is declining in the industry. Over the last several years, the system has been the largest contributor to scrams and downpowers. This session will include an overview on industry feedwater trends with INPO and a discussion on efforts by Constellation to improve system feedwater performance. The discussion will center around the cross-functional team reviews and the key actions taken by Constellation to resolve identified vulnerabilities. This session provides an excellent opportunity to understand how Constellation addressed vulnerabilities in systems with declining health and how they built a cross-functional team with vendor support to enable success.
Bill Eckes
INPO
Alan Raush
Constellation
Tim Shaw
MPR Associates
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Session Notes