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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.
Per Lindén, Gudmar Grosshög, Imre Pázsit
Nuclear Technology | Volume 124 | Number 1 | October 1998 | Pages 31-51
Technical Paper | Thermal Hydraulics | doi.org/10.13182/NT98-A2907
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Flow measurements were performed with pulsed-neutron activation (PNA) in a specially designed test loop. A stationary neutron generator was used as a neutron source, and the detection of the induced 16N activity in the flow was performed by two bismuth germanate detectors. Stable flow could be produced in the loop and measured with high precision (~0.5% error) by a scale and a stopwatch method, concurrent with the PNA measurement. A series of measurements have been made by varying the position of the detectors, the flow velocity, etc. The accuracy of the various time-averaging methods that are used in the evaluation of the PNA measurement could be assessed by a comparison with the flow calibration data. In particular, the dependence of the error of the different PNA evaluation methods as functions of detector spacing and flow velocity was determined. The measurements are part of a program that seeks to develop a flowmeter suitable for practical applications, which will include backing up the method with flow calculation and signal-processing methods such as neural networks for off-line calibration of the equipment.