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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, Atsushi Katoh, Tomohiko Yamamoto, Shigenobu Kubo, Shuji Ohno, Mikinori Iwasaki, Hiroyuki Hara, Yoshio Shimakawa, Hiroshi Sakaba
Nuclear Technology | Volume 196 | Number 1 | October 2016 | Pages 61-73
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NT15-131
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Japan Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (JSFR) adopts a double boundary for all sodium components. In this paper, design measures are investigated against a secondary sodium fire inside the reactor building, which might be assumed as design extension conditions. Candidate sodium fire measures for the secondary sodium systems compared in terms of safety are the sodium drain, nitrogen injection, pressure release valve, catch pan, and drain system for leaked sodium. Various sodium fires in the steam generator room have been analyzed by the SPHINCS code to evaluate the performance of the candidate sodium fire measures.
