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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. Barbucci, L. Bella
Nuclear Technology | Volume 112 | Number 1 | October 1995 | Pages 1-8
Technical Paper | Fission Reactor | doi.org/10.13182/NT95-A15847
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The results of a simulation activity on a General Electric (GE) simplified boiling water reactor (SB WR) carried out at ENEL (the Italian Electricity Board) are discussed. The SBWR is a medium-size [600 MW(electric)] new generation reactor developed by GE, whose safety is ensured by means of passive systems (water gravity injection, pressure suppression, and passive heat removal). The RELAP5/MOD2 code is a well-known tool developed at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratories and made available by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; it has been widely used and qualified all over the world. To investigate the thermal-hydraulic performance of such an innovative reactor during accident scenarios, a SBWR RELAP5/MOD2 model was developed and a selected number of transients were analyzed. The typical phenomena related to the SBWR accident behavior was investigated. A good agreement was found between the RELAP5/MOD2 code and the licensing code (TRAC-G) results. In all cases, the performance of the SBWR safety systems was also evaluated.