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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.
Thiagarajan Gnanasekaran, Kandhalu Hari Mahendran, Raghavachary Sridharan, Vedaraman Ganesan, Govindaswami Periaswami, Cherian K. Mathews
Nuclear Technology | Volume 90 | Number 3 | June 1990 | Pages 408-416
Technical Paper | RELAP/MOD2 / Material | doi.org/10.13182/NT90-A34404
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
An electrochemical hydrogen meter using a CaCl2-CaH2 electrolyte and a Li-LiH reference electrode was constructed and used to monitor dissolved hydrogen in liquid sodium. These meters have been tested in bench-top sodium loops equipped with cold traps for controlling hydrogen levels in sodium. The experimental results showed that the meters yield nearly theoretical outputs down to the lowest hydrogen levels that were achievable in these loops (∼ 50 ppb). The sensitivity of the meters for changes in hydrogen concentrations is adequate for use in the sodium circuits of a fast reactor to detect leaks of hydrogen bearing extraneous materials into sodium. These meters, along with a gas chromatograph, were also used to study the reaction of hydrocarbon oil with liquid sodium. The experimental results showed that for detecting oil leaks into sodium these meters provide a simpler alternative to monitoring of methane in the cover gas using a gas chromatograph.