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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.
Paul J. Babel, Barry H. Brosey, Carl H. Distenfeld
Nuclear Technology | Volume 87 | Number 2 | October 1989 | Pages 470-477
Technical Paper | TMI-2: Health Physics and Environmental Release / Nuclear Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT89-A27739
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The effort involved in determining the location and quantity of reactor fuel remaining in the nuclear auxiliary systems of the auxiliary/fuel handling building at Three Mile Island Unit 2 is discussed. The overall approach identifying the most likely locations for reactor fuel, the gamma-ray spectrometry system used, and the radiation transport computer codes and numerical analysis techniques used is also discussed. The results of the measurements show that a very small quantity of reactor fuel remains in the makeup and purification and the waste disposal liquid systems.
