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.
Luis E. Herranz, F. J. S. Velasco, Claudia L. Del Prá
Nuclear Technology | Volume 154 | Number 1 | April 2006 | Pages 85-94
Technical Paper | Nuclear Plant Operations and Control | doi.org/10.13182/NT06-A3719
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Steam generator tube rupture sequences are identified as major contributors to the risk assessments of pressurized water reactors. Despite very low probability, they involve a direct pathway for radioactivity release into the environment. Nonetheless, fission products could be partially retained in the secondary side of the steam generator, even in the absence of water. This paper summarizes the main results of a bench-scale experimental program focused on the aerosol retention near the tube breach at the secondary side of a dry steam generator. The major variables investigated were the breach configuration (i.e., type, orientation, and location) and the gas mass flow rate. The results showed that near the breach, aerosol retention is low (<20%), and it generally decreases when the gas mass flow rate increases. Discussion of the experimental results suggested that certain phenomena, such as fragmentation and/or resuspension, as well as particle nature could have a large effect on the scenario studied, and they should be considered as potential issues and/or variables to be explored in future work.