ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2026
Nuclear Technology
August 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
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.
Stanley H. Levinson, Robert S. Enzinna, B&W Nuclear Service Company, P.O. Box 10935, Lynchburg, Virginia 24506-0935
Nuclear Technology | Volume 91 | Number 1 | July 1990 | Pages 102-111
Technical Paper | Safety of Next Generation Power Reactor / Nuclear Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT90-A34446
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Babcock & Wilcox and United Engineers and Constructors advanced light water reactor (ALWR) design has features that will provide enhanced safety, reliability, and design margin over the current generation of commercial nuclear power plants. The B-600 ALWR is a 600-MW(electric) two-loop pressurized water reactor (PWR). A probabilistic analysis has been performed to provide early feedback to the designers to enhance the reliability of the safety systems. Based on this information, the ALWR designers have eliminated most of the features that dominate the risk profile in conventional PWRs. This has resulted in the calculated core damage frequency for the ALWR being better than the design targets.
