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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.
Yury A. Bezrukov, Sergey A. Logvinov, Vladimir N. Ul'yanovsky, Nikolay A. Strebnev
Nuclear Technology | Volume 146 | Number 2 | May 2004 | Pages 122-130
Technical Paper | Fission Reactors | doi.org/10.13182/NT04-A3492
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In this paper, results of experimental studies of the coolant flow mixing at different boron concentration and different temperature in the VVER-1000 reactor downcomer and lower plenum are presented. Studies concerning boron dilution were carried out on the reactor model in scale 1:5 for cases of reactor coolant pump (RCP) startup and resumption of natural circulation during a small-break loss-of-coolant accident. It has been shown that for RCP startup, the effect of Reynolds number on mixing is negligible. Studies of flow mixing in the reactor downcomer were carried out applied to emergency core cooling system water injection into the cold loop leg and reactor downcomer. Results of the tests on model and reactor have been analyzed, and recommendations for calculations have been provided.