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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.
Truong V. Vo
Nuclear Technology | Volume 82 | Number 1 | July 1988 | Pages 21-35
Technical Paper | Nuclear Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT88-A34114
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In a study commissioned by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Pacific Northwest Laboratory evaluated the costs and benefits of modifying regulatory requirements in the area of the turbine rotor design reviews and inspections. The basis for the analysis was presented in the Regulatory Analysis Guidelines and in the Handbook for Value-Impact Assessment. The effects of selected modifications to regulations were evaluated in terms of public risk and costs to industry and the NRC. The results indicate that substantial savings in operating costs may be realized by changing the interval of turbine rotor inspections.