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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.
Y. A. Hassan, Parvez Salim
Nuclear Technology | Volume 96 | Number 2 | November 1991 | Pages 139-146
Technical Paper | Nuclear Reactor Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT91-A34600
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s third standard problem exercise (SPE-3) is simulated with the RELAP5/MOD2 and RELAP5/MOD3 computer codes. The SPE-3 consists of the simulation of the transient resulting from an 11.9% break in the hot collector of the steam generator (primary-secondary leak) of the PMK-NVH test facility. The predicted scenario is compared with the experimental data. Generally, a reasonable agreement between the code predictions and experimental data is obtained. One important calculated parameter that demonstrates deviation from the data is the break mass flow rate. The RELAP5/MOD2 and RELAP5/MOD3 predictions did not display significant differences. This assessment is a part of an international effort for codes/benchmarks.