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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.
Yoshitaka Chikazawa, Mamoru Konomura, Tomoyasu Mizuno, Makoto Mito, Mikio Tanji
Nuclear Technology | Volume 154 | Number 2 | May 2006 | Pages 142-154
Technical Paper | Fission Reactors | doi.org/10.13182/NT06-A3724
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A small fast reactor has the potential to be utilized as a power source applicable to diversified social needs and to reduce capital risks. At remote sites where the population is small and plants cannot be economically connected to a power grid, power sources without refueling whose capacities are <50 MW(electric) are required because the fuel transfer cost is expensive at such sites. In the present study, a small lead-bismuth-cooled core with a 30-yr lifetime has been developed, and a simple plant system without refueling has been sketched. The dimensions of the major components are determined to evaluate its economic potential. Transient analyses of anticipated-transient-without-scram events show that the design has passive safety features suitable for a remote power source.