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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.
Young Min Kwon, Soon Heung Chang
Nuclear Technology | Volume 130 | Number 3 | June 2000 | Pages 310-328
Technical Paper | Thermal Hydraulics | doi.org/10.13182/NT00-A3096
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A model to predict critical heat flux (CHF) for high-heat-flux subcooled flow boiling in uniformly heated tubes is proposed. The present CHF model is based on the mechanism of wall-attached bubble coalescence. To take into account the enhanced condensation due to high subcooling and high mass velocity in small-diameter tubes, a mechanistic approach is adopted to evaluate the nonequilibrium flow quality and void fraction in the subcooled water flow boiling. Comparison of the model predictions against ~3100 subcooled water CHF data shows relatively good agreement over a wide range of parameters that covers the operating conditions of fusion reactor components. The operating ranges of the present database cover 0.33 D 37.5 mm, 0.002 L 4 m, 0.1 P 20 MPa, 0.37 G 134 Mg/m2s, 49 hsub,in 1659 kJ/kg, -1.25 xem < 0, and 1.05 qCHF 276 MW/m2.