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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.
Thomas B. Rezentes, Mark A. Prelas, Eric Lukosi, Matthew L. Watermann, Jack Crawford, and Richard H. Olsher
Nuclear Technology | Volume 187 | Number 1 | July 2014 | Pages 96-102
Technical Note | Radiation Transport and Protection | doi.org/10.13182/NT11-105
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A computer-based investigative technique, using the Los Alamos Monte Carlo code MCNP5 version 1.51 (Radiation Safety Information Computational Center), was completed to assess the shallow dose equivalent (SDE) reported on the Landauer, Inc.,TM Luxel+ optically stimulated light (OSL) dosimeter. Experimental test irradiations were conducted on 18 OSL dosimeters through various controlled exposures to the source (10 mCi 90Sr). The reported SDE for each test irradiation was compared to the results for SDE calculated using MCNP5. All test irradiation experiments were conducted with the 90Sr source placed in direct contact with the dosimeter with slight placement changes across the dosimeter face. It was found that these slight adjustments caused vast differences in reported doses by Landauer. The SDE determined in a tissue matrix using MCNP5 was studied for two of the dosimeter badge geometries, and it was found that some qualitative agreement exists between the reported and simulated doses in contradiction with the experimental results. Further simulated analysis was not conducted because precise source-dosimeter geometries and the algorithm used by Landauer to analyze its Luxel+ OSL dosimeters were not known. These results indicate that a future study should be conducted with more rigorous simulated benchmarking to verify these results.