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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.
Peter Norgard, Bradley D. Jeffries, Barry Higgins, John M. Gahl, J. David Robertson
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 198 | Number 1 | January 2024 | Pages 83-91
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2023.2173965
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
An available supply of high-specific-activity radioisotopes was identified by the U.S. Department of Energy as a critical priority to the development and eventual deployment of next-generation medical diagnostic and cancer therapy tools. Work at the University of Missouri Research Reactor Center has been undertaken to develop an electromagnetic isotope separation technique that will leverage the production capabilities of the 10-MW reactor to provide radiolanthanides in quantities suitable for use in preclinical trials. A high-throughput concept design based on a solid tantalum hot surface ion source and an insertable titanium crucible will be described. Significant aspects of the electrical and thermal design of the ion source will be presented. Novel heating and cooling strategies were employed to concentrate heating where it is most needed while attempting to reduce thermal stress where heating is not required. Thermal testing from the commissioning process will be presented to demonstrate the temperature at several key locations in and around the ion source.