ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2026
Nuclear Technology
August 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
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.
Sridhar Hari, Yassin A. Hassan, Jiyuan Tu
Nuclear Technology | Volume 130 | Number 3 | June 2000 | Pages 296-309
Technical Paper | Thermal Hydraulics | doi.org/10.13182/NT00-A3095
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Simulations of two different events without scram were conducted for a hypothetical research reactor, based on the High-Flux Australian Reactor (HIFAR) moderated and cooled by heavy water circulating under atmospheric pressure. The simulations were performed with the RELAP5/MOD3.2 computer program. Although the simulations neglected reactivity feedback effects, the focus on the thermal-hydraulic aspects represents a step toward full analyses of hypothetical events in HIFAR. Two simulations focused on events associated with the failure of the primary coolant circulation pumps, and three simulations focus on the events associated with the reduced heat removal via the nonavailability of heat exchangers. The critical heat flux subroutine of the RELAP program was modified to account for the concentric annular fuel element geometry of HIFAR fuel elements.