ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2026
Nuclear Technology
August 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
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.
Robert S. Sellers, Wei-Jen Cheng, Brian C. Kelleher, Mark H. Anderson, Kumar Sridharan, Chaur-Jeng Wang, Todd R. Allen
Nuclear Technology | Volume 188 | Number 2 | November 2014 | Pages 192-199
Technical Paper | Materials for Nuclear Systems | doi.org/10.13182/NT13-95
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Molten FLiNaK salt [46.5%LiF-11.5%NaF-42%KF (mol%)] has been proposed for use as a secondary reactor coolant and medium for transfer of high-temperature process heat from nuclear reactors to chemical plants. Two alloys—Hastelloy-N superalloy (Hastelloy-N) and Type 316L stainless steel alloy (316L steel)—were exposed to molten FLiNaK salt in a 316L steel crucible under argon cover gas at 850°C for 1000 h. Graphite was also introduced into the test with the goal of studying the corrosion behavior of relevant reactor material combinations. The results show that corrosion of 316L steel occurred primarily through surface depletion of Cr. Contrarily, Hastelloy-N experienced weight gain due to the electrochemical plating of corrosion products, Fe and Cr, derived from the 316L steel crucible. The graphite sample enhanced the corrosion of the 316L steel sample and crucible, which induced the formation of (Cr,Fe)7C3 and (Mo,Cr,Fe)2C carbides on the surface of graphite. These carbide formations were attributed to the nonelectric transfer between 316L steel and graphite. Besides reducing the availability of chromium to plate, the presence of graphite did not change the basic corrosion of the 316L steel and plating process of Hastelloy-N.
