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August 24–27, 2026
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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.
Jason Chao, V. K. Chexal, William H. Layman, Gary Vine, Peter J. Jensen, Adi R. Dastur
Nuclear Technology | Volume 83 | Number 3 | December 1988 | Pages 289-301
Technical Paper | Fifth International Retran Meeting / Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow | doi.org/10.13182/NT88-A34142
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The two power peaks during the Chernobyl accident were analyzed using the system thermal-hydraulic code RETRAN-02. The time and magnitude of the first power peak predicted by the RETRAN model compared well with the data presented by the Soviets. The analysis also revealed that one of the contributing factors to the second power peak was the depressurization of the system. Depressurization occurred upon rupture of the pressure boundary, which was caused by the first power peak. The depressurization of the system generated more voids, resulting in additional reactivity insertion, which produced a second peak. A parametric study showed that the positive reactivity introduced by the scram rods and the reactivity caused by the positive void coefficient were both important in contributing to the accident.
