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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.
Toyoshi Fuketa, Hideo Sasajima, Tomoyuki Sugiyama
Nuclear Technology | Volume 133 | Number 1 | January 2001 | Pages 50-62
Technical Paper | Fuel Cycle and Management | doi.org/10.13182/NT01-A3158
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Experimental programs on fuel behavior during simulated reactivity-initiated-accident (RIA) conditions at the Nuclear Safety Research Reactor (NSRR) in Japan and the CABRI test reactor in France appear to indicate that cladding failures may occur at enthalpy values lower than would be expected. Results from two experiments designated as HBO-1 in NSRR and REP Na-1 in CABRI indicate that the occurrence of fuel failure is strongly influenced by corrosion of cladding in the tested fuels. However, data had been limited to fuel rods with conventional (1.5% Sn) Zircaloy-4 cladding. Results are described from newly conducted NSRR experiments, TK test series, for 38 to 50 MWd/kg U pressurized water reactor fuels with low-tin (1.3% Sn) Zircaloy-4 cladding, and anticipated processes of fuel behavior during the transient are discussed.