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August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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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.
August W. Cronenberg, E. L. Tolman
Nuclear Technology | Volume 87 | Number 1 | August 1989 | Pages 273-282
Technical Paper | TMI-2: Materials Behavior / Nuclear Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT89-A27654
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Inspection of the Three Mile Island Unit 2 (TMI-2) reactor vessel has yielded a wealth of information on core melt debris thermal interactions with vessel internal structures. The observed damage state of such structures is summarized and an analysis is presented to further the understanding of governing physical processes. Specifically, thermal damage is assessed for the baffle plates surrounding the core periphery, the core former plates, the bottom head instrument penetrations, and the lower head. Analysis indicates that differences in damage characteristics to such structures are due largely to differences in contact time with molten corium, the heat capacity of the various structures, and exposure to coolant. Vessel and debris examinations corroborate the present understanding of melt debris/structural interactions during the melt relocation phase of the TMI-2 accident.