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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.
C. C. Scheffing, K. Jagannadham, M.-S. Yim, M. A. Bourham, J. C. Farmer, J. J. Haslam, S. D. Day, D. V. Fix, N. Y. Yang
Nuclear Technology | Volume 156 | Number 2 | November 2006 | Pages 213-221
Technical Paper | Radioactive Waste Management and Disposal | doi.org/10.13182/NT156-213
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A feasibility study of applying titanium-nitride (TiN) coating onto waste package surfaces was performed as part of efforts to enhance the long-term performance of high-level waste packages. The hypothesis examined in the study is that a successful TiN coating would provide an effective mass-transport barrier thus preventing corrosion. In the present work, single-layer TiN and multiple-layer TiN + Ti, TiN + Ti + TiN, and ZrO2 + TiN were deposited on Type 316L stainless steel substrates. The coated samples were tested for corrosion properties in different types of water using polarization and weight loss tests. Results of corrosion testing are presented and discussed.