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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.
Adly B. Wahba, Fritz Steinhoff
Nuclear Technology | Volume 87 | Number 4 | December 1989 | Pages 1086-1096
Late Paper | TMI-2: Decontamination and Waste Management / Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow | doi.org/10.13182/NT89-A27699
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The thermal-hydraulic code A THLET used to analyze the Three Mile Island Unit 2 accident was developed at the Gesellschaft für Reaktorsicherheit in the Federal Republic of Germany for safety analysis of pressurized water reactors with U-tube steam generators. First calculations of phase 1 of the accident without simulating the secondary sides were preliminary and have shown the need for accurate heat flow rates in the steam generators. The available values resulted in an incorrect system pressure behavior. Second calculations with detailed simulation of the once-through steam generator provided interesting information like the influence of flow resistance in the aspirator on cold-leg temperature and the dependence of system behavior on the rate and position of auxiliary feedwater injection.