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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.
Jean-Lucien Mourlevat, Alain Parry, Jean-François Petetrot, Jean-François Aschenbrenner
Nuclear Technology | Volume 92 | Number 3 | December 1990 | Pages 300-308
Technical Paper | Fission Reactor | doi.org/10.13182/NT90-A16232
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The advantages of replacing obsolete analog equipment with modern digital equipment in a pressurized water reactor are presented. Several modifications to the control system are discussed in detail, with anticipated benefits. The process of rejuvenating the protection system of old 900-MW(electric) plants is described, indicating objectives, technology employed, and new system architecture.
