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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.
Mansur A. Alammar
Nuclear Technology | Volume 93 | Number 1 | January 1991 | Pages 47-52
Technical Paper | Nuclear Reactor Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT91-A34517
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Oyster Creek RETRAN licensing model was submitted for approval by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in September 1987. The technical issues and concerns that were raised during the review process and how they were resolved are discussed. The technical issues are grouped into three major categories: (a) the adequacy of the model benchmark against plant data; (b) uncertainty analysis and model convergence with respect to various critical parameters (code correlations, nodalization, time step, etc.); and (c) model application and usage.