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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.
Carl Stoots, Lee Shunn, James O'Brien
Nuclear Technology | Volume 178 | Number 1 | April 2012 | Pages 83-93
Technical Paper | Safety and Technology of Nuclear Hydrogen Production, Control, and Management / Nuclear Hydrogen Production | doi.org/10.13182/NT12-A13549
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The primary feedstock for synthetic fuel production is syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen. Current hydrogen production technologies rely upon fossil fuels and produce significant quantities of greenhouse gases as a by-product. This is not a sustainable means of satisfying future hydrogen demands given the current projections for conventional world oil production and future targets for carbon emissions. For the past 6 yr, the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has been investigating the use of high-temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE) to produce the hydrogen feedstock required for synthetic fuel production. HTSE water-splitting technology, combined with non-carbon-emitting energy sources, can provide a sustainable, environmentally friendly means of large-scale hydrogen production. Additionally, laboratory facilities are being developed at the INL for testing hybrid energy systems composed of several tightly coupled chemical processes (HYTEST program). The first such test involved the coupling of HTSE, a CO2 separation membrane, the reverse-shift reaction, and the methanation reaction to demonstrate synthetic natural gas production from a feedstock of water and either CO or a simulated flue gas containing CO2. This paper will introduce the initial HTSE and HYTEST testing facilities, overall coupling of the technologies, testing results, and future plans.