ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2026
Nuclear Technology
August 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
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.
John M. Cimbala, Daniel E. Hughes, Samuel H. Levine, Dhushy Sathianathan
Nuclear Technology | Volume 81 | Number 3 | June 1988 | Pages 435-445
Technical Paper | Technique | doi.org/10.13182/NT88-A16065
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Real-time thermal neutron radiography has been applied to the visualization of fluid flows. Since neutrons can penetrate metal casings, the technique may be useful for the visualization of fluids flowing inside metal enclosures, such as valves, engine or transmission components, etc. The technique described involves shadowgraph imaging of neutron-opaque tracer materials (either solid or fluid particles) as they convect in a stream of neutron-transparent ambient fluid. Real-time motion pictures of several simple flows have been recorded, from which velocities, regions of flow separation, rate of mixing, and other information about the flow field can be obtained. The neutron radiography facility at the Penn State Breazeale Nuclear Reactor and the studies performed to determine viable liquids useful in neutron radiography applications are described. Some examples of successful flow visualizations are also presented.