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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.
Jeremy J. Whitlock, Naoko Inoue, Masao Senzaki, Dennis Bley, Ed Wonder
Nuclear Technology | Volume 179 | Number 1 | July 2012 | Pages 91-96
Technical Paper | Special Issue on Safeguards / Fuel Cycle and Management | doi.org/10.13182/NT179-91
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Proliferation Resistance and Physical Protection (PR&PP) Working Group of the Generation IV International Forum conducted a high-level pathway analysis of a hypothetical sodium fast reactor and integral fuel processing facility (called collectively the Example Sodium Fast Reactor, or ESFR), as a test of the effectiveness of its analysis methodology. This paper presents the results of the analysis based on the breakout scenario. Four representative strategies were chosen for analysis: diversion of low-enriched uranium feed material, two different types of misuse of the reactor facility, and misuse of the fuel processing facility. A high-level pathways analysis was conducted for each strategy to determine relative ranking of the proliferation-time measure, specifically as it applies to the postbreakout period.