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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.
Ung-Soo Kim, Poong-Hyun Seong
Nuclear Technology | Volume 141 | Number 2 | February 2003 | Pages 157-166
Technical Paper | Nuclear Plant Operations and Control | doi.org/10.13182/NT03-A3357
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In this research, lower shifted worth control rods (LSWCRs) are suggested to mitigate problems related to variation of axial power distribution during the power maneuvering of pressurized water reactors. These rods are classified into two types. The first type is "multipurpose control rod," and the other type is "regulating control rod." Two multipurpose control rod banks (LSWCR1, LSWCR2) and three regulating control rod banks (LSWCR5, LSWCR4, LSWCR3) are suggested and developed. The moving characteristics of LSWCRs, related to variation of reactivity and the axial offset (AO), are analyzed, and the operation strategy for LSWCRs is established. Then, an application of LSWCRs for the power maneuvering is performed using the developed strategy, and the reference daily load pattern is 100-50-100%, 2-6-2-14h pattern that is appropriate for operation of the electric grid in Korea. From the results, it is shown that the combinative use of multipurpose control rods (LSWCR1, LSWCR2) makes it possible to control the AO within the target band during the power maneuvering. Also, the results show that the power maneuvering without reactivity compensation by change of boron concentration is accomplished, and consequently the minimization of boron concentration change is possible.