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.
Tetsuo Fukasawa, Yoshihiro Ozawa, Fumio Kawamura
Nuclear Technology | Volume 94 | Number 1 | April 1991 | Pages 108-113
Technical Paper | Enrichment and Reprocessing | doi.org/10.13182/NT91-A16226
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The generation and decomposition behavior of nitrous acid is experimentally investigated during dissolution of unirradiated uranium dioxide (UO2) pellets by a nitric acid solution. The nitrous acid is generated by the dissolution of UO2 and it then decomposes to nitrogen oxides through the solution surface. The generation rate is equal to the dissolution rate of the uranium pellet and it depends on the nitric acid concentration, solution temperature, and effective pellet surface area. The decomposition rate depends on the solution surface area and temperature. These findings allow prediction of changes in nitrous acid concentration during and after dissolution.
