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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.
Youichi Enokida, Atsuyuki Suzuki
Nuclear Technology | Volume 88 | Number 1 | October 1989 | Pages 47-54
Technical Paper | Chemical Processing | doi.org/10.13182/NT89-A34335
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A KrF excimer laser system is experimentally used to photochemically induce the reduction of 1 × 10−4 mol/dm3 Np(VI) to Np(V) while in a solution of 30% tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) and nitric acid. It is found that Np(VI), initially prepared from KMnO4 and then extracted by 30% TBP, can be reduced by the reaction with nitrous acid, which is produced by photolysis of nitric acid. The experimental results have demonstrated that laser-induced redox reactions are effective in changing the distribution ratio and reaching equilibrium quickly.