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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.
Shih-Jen Wang, Chun-Sheng Chien, Suh-Chyn Jeng
Nuclear Technology | Volume 105 | Number 3 | March 1994 | Pages 447-456
Technical Paper | Radiation Protection | doi.org/10.13182/NT94-A34943
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A plant analyzer was developed for the Kuosheng power station, based on the AD-100 peripheral processor system. To analyze a transient from partial power conditions, the initial steady-state conditions must be generated in advance. A self-initialization algorithm for generating the initial partial power conditions has been developed. The initialization of the rated power conditions is performed first. The self-initialization algorithm then simultaneously adjusts important plant variables, such as the reactor power, dome pressure, downcomer level, feedwater temperature, and core flow, to the desired partial power conditions from the rated conditions with the aid of existing plant control systems and four extra control loops. This algorithm was developed and encoded in the Kuosheng plant analyzer. The initialization for a recirculation pump trip test at 68% of rated power demonstrates the success of this algorithm. The initial conditions generated can be saved and used for transient analysis. Tedious and time-consuming trial-and-error initialization procedures are eliminated. This methodology improves the accuracy and consistency of transient calculations for partial power conditions.