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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.
Chang Joon Jeong, Ho Chun Suk
Nuclear Technology | Volume 154 | Number 2 | May 2006 | Pages 215-223
Technical Paper | Reactor Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT06-A3729
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The power pulse characteristics following a large loss-of-coolant accident have been analyzed for a Canada deuterium uranium (CANDU)-6 reactor core fueled with a CANDU flexible fueling recovered uranium fuel. The coupled simulations for the reactor physics and channel thermal-hydraulics phenomena are done using the RFSP and CATHENA codes. The 55% pump suction, 35% reactor inlet header, and 100% reactor outlet header breaks were selected. From the analysis results, it is known that the shutoff rods have enough reactivity for a reactor shutdown and to maintain it at a subcriticality state. Even with the highest power pulse, which occurred in a 100% reactor outlet header break, the fuel temperature was maintained below the fuel melting temperature. The summation of the initial stored energy and the transient pulse energy of the hottest fuel pin has a minimum 17% margin for the fuel breakup.