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.
Man Soon Cho, Kee Nam Choo, Seong Woo Yang
Nuclear Technology | Volume 193 | Number 2 | February 2016 | Pages 330-339
Technical Note | doi.org/10.13182/NT15-19
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Korean research program on nuclear technology requires various in-pile tests to evaluate the safety of currently operating nuclear power plants and develop a future nuclear system. HANARO (High-flux Advanced Neutron Application Reactor) provides a peak thermal and fast flux of 5.0 × 1014 n/cm2 · s (E < 0.625 MeV) and 2.1 × 1014 n/cm2 · s (E > 0.821 MeV), respectively, at 30 MW maximum thermal power. A capsule system has been developed for irradiation tests of nuclear materials and fuels at the core region. Extensive efforts have been made to establish the design and manufacturing technology for various capsules and a temperature control system, which should be compatible with HANARO’s characteristics. The capsule system has been actively utilized for various materials and fuel irradiation tests requested by users from research institutes, universities, and industries. Since 1995, more than 10,000 specimens have been irradiated using the developed capsule system. Presently, new irradiation technologies, such as a high-temperature irradiation capsule for a very-high-temperature reactor and a sodium-cooled fast reactor, and a low-temperature irradiation capsule for a research reactor, are being developed. These technologies will be completed with the development of instruments such as a linear variable differential transformer, a micro-electric heater, and a self-powered neutron detector in the near future, and they will be used for the Generation-IV nuclear system in Korea.