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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.
Pedro Mata Alonso, Rafael Otero Carrasco, Pablo Garcia Sedano
Nuclear Technology | Volume 93 | Number 1 | January 1991 | Pages 7-15
Technical Paper | Nuclear Reactor Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT91-A34513
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The applicability of a complete and well-qualified plant transient code and model to support in-depth evaluations of anomalous plant transients is shown. Analyses of several operational and abnormal transients that occurred during the first three cycles of the Cofrentes boiling water reactor nuclear power plant are presented. Several safety issues for the Cofrentes and Almaraz power plants are also resolved. These applications demonstrate the need for a very detailed and accurate simulation of the control systems as well as the convenience of having a data acquisition system that is as complete as possible.