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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.
Roger L. Martz, Kevin M. Marshall
Nuclear Technology | Volume 184 | Number 2 | November 2013 | Pages 239-248
Technical Paper | Radiation Transport and Protection | doi.org/10.13182/NT13-A22319
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
MCNP6 has been extended to include a new capability that permits tracking of neutrons and photons on an unstructured mesh (UM) embedded as a mesh universe within its constructive solid geometry capability. Our mesh geometry was created through Abaqus/CAE using its solid modeling capabilities. Monte Carlo transport results are calculated for mesh elements using a path length estimator while particles track from element face to element face on the mesh. This paper presents some performance comparisons for the initialization and calculation phases of two well-known benchmark problems using both the legacy and the UM tracking capabilities. For detailed geometries, UM initialization is always faster. For very detailed geometries where the models are comparable, the UM capability is faster than the legacy geometry capability.