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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.
H.-G. Dillmann, H. Pasler, J. G. Wilhelm
Nuclear Technology | Volume 92 | Number 1 | October 1990 | Pages 40-49
Technical Paper | Development of Nuclear Gas Cleaning and Filtering Techniques / Nuclear Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT90-A34485
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Light water reactors in the Federal Republic of Germany are being retrofitted with venting filters for use after serious reactor accidents. Deep-bed stainless steel fiber filters remove droplets and particles as well as high-efficiency particulate air filters. The deep-bed stainless steel fiber filters consist of two layers of fleece. The fiber diameter decreases gradually from 30 to 2 µm in the direction of flow. In addition to its high removal efficiency, its resistance to extreme loads, and its high dust loading capacity, the filter is important because it completely separates droplets. Even after 130 h of spraying with fine (2- to 5-µm-diam) droplets, a maximum increase in differential pressure of only 3 mbars was measured. No penetrating water was detected on the downstream side. Even at a flow of more than twice the recommended rate, the removal efficiency only dropped from ≥99.99 to ∼99.95%. An iodine filter can also be installed in each of the venting filters. Iodine experiments were conducted to determine the design of the iodine filter. The data obtained in experimental work using special silver zeolites are reported.