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Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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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.
M. P. Antony, J. Daniel, C. K. Mathews
Nuclear Technology | Volume 117 | Number 3 | March 1997 | Pages 299-305
Technical Paper | Nuclear Fuel Cycle | doi.org/10.13182/NT97-A35344
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The fast breeder test reactor (FBTR) at Kalpakkam, India, currently employs a mixed carbide of uranium and plutonium with a Pu/(Pu + U) ratio of 0.70 as fuel. The behavior of this fuel in a thermal gradient is inves tigated. An out-of-pile simulation facility is designed, set up, and commissioned. Experiments are conducted on FBTR fuel pellets to study the restructuring of the fuel at various levels of linear power and its cracking behavior in a thermal gradient. The results are discussed in terms of their significance for reactor operation.
