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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.
Yanhua Zheng, Hanliang Bo, Duo Dong
Nuclear Technology | Volume 153 | Number 2 | February 2006 | Pages 234-239
Technical Note | Thermal Hydraulics | doi.org/10.13182/NT06-A3703
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
As a new type of control rod driving system, the hydraulic control rod driving system (HCRDS) has long been applied in a 5-MW nuclear heating reactor, and the safety and the reliability of the system have been proven. The principle of the work and the step-up operation of the HCRDS have been introduced in this paper. Based on the theoretical model, the temperature influence on the static holding-flow rate, the dynamic holding-flow rate, and the working holding-flow rate has been studied. It indicates that with the increase of the temperature, the static and dynamic holding-flow rates will increase while the working holding-flow rate will decrease.A detailed analysis of the step-up process on various temperature conditions has been carried out. Considering the great temperature influence on the step-up operation of the system, the method of temperature compensation to select suitable delay time and working holding-flow rate in a certain temperature province is put forward to offset the influence. The analysis can be conducive to widespread availability of the HCRDS and establish a basis for further research and improvement.