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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.
P. S. Remya Devi, Shreeram Joshi, Rakesh Verma, A. V. R. Reddy, A. M. Lali, L. M. Gantayet
Nuclear Technology | Volume 171 | Number 2 | August 2010 | Pages 220-227
Technical Paper | Radioisotopes | doi.org/10.13182/NT10-A10784
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The feasibility of using ion-exchange resins to separate cobalt and antimony from zirconium in acid solutions was investigated. The distribution coefficients of zirconium, cobalt, and antimony on strong cation and anion exchangers in HCl and oxalic acid media were determined. The mass effect of zirconium on the distribution coefficients of cobalt and antimony was studied. The isotherm for zirconium was obtained in HCl solution. The distribution coefficient and isotherm data were used to develop ion-exchange processes for separation of cobalt and antimony from zirconium in the linear and nonlinear regions of the isotherm. A decontamination factor of more than 103 was achieved in a single ion-exchange cycle with respect to both cobalt and antimony. Two cycles of ion exchange will bring down the activity to acceptable levels for processing of irradiated zirconium as well as achieve a significant reduction in the waste volume. This is the first paper on separation of 60Co and 125Sb from zirconium for radioactive waste management.