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2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
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.
Frank E. Motley, Richard P. Jenks
Nuclear Technology | Volume 87 | Number 1 | August 1989 | Pages 302-309
Technical Paper | TMI-2: Materials Behavior / Nuclear Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT89-A27658
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Work has been performed to develop a Three Mile Island Unit 2 (TMI-2) simulation model for MELPROG/TRAC capable of predicting the observed plant behavior that occurred during the accident of March 1979. A description of the TMI-2 plant model is presented, and calculation results through 174 min of the accident are discussed. Using the boundary conditions recommended for the TMI-2 Analysis Exercise, the calculation predicts pressurizer draining and core recovering prior to fuel rod damage. A parametric calculation (with reduced makeup flow) was also performed and is in better agreement with the observed plant behavior. Efforts are under way to proceed with an accurate simulation through phases 3 and 4 of the accident (174 to 227 min and 227 to 300 min, respectively).
