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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.
Wencheng Wu, Chaung Lin
Nuclear Technology | Volume 106 | Number 2 | May 1994 | Pages 216-224
Technical Paper | Reactor Control | doi.org/10.13182/NT94-A34977
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
An optimal reliable control system has been designed to control the steam generator’s water level in a pressurized water reactor. The control system uses a multiple-controller configuration so that even if part of the controller fails, the control system still functions well. The value of the controller parameters is obtained by means of an optimization algorithm, thus guaranteeing the performance of the controller under normal operation or a partially failed condition. The simulation results clearly demonstrate the performance of the controller, and this success encourages application of the method to the other crucial control systems in nuclear power plants.