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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.
L. C. Lewis, J. P. Henscheid
Nuclear Technology | Volume 85 | Number 3 | June 1989 | Pages 294-299
Technical Paper | Chemical Processing | doi.org/10.13182/NT89-A34251
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Remote Analytical Laboratory at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant was designed to provide analytical chemistry support to the irradiated fuel processing and associated waste processing operations. The facility was put into radioactive operation on July 7, 1986, and operated for more than a year during the first fluorinel fuel dissolution process campaign. The facility incorporated a number of innovative features and was equipped with state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation. The success of the facility is a direct function of how well the remote analytical equipment performed. A wide range of high-technology methods, which were adapted for remote use, proved to be reliable and provided accurate measurements of chemical parameters. Sample turnaround times were of interest because in some instances the turnaround time was the process rate-limiting step. Several innovative features were built into the system to reduce turnaround time. These included remote log-in of samples, pneumatic sample delivery systems, specialized training, computerized sample result reporting, and improvements in the placement of equipment.