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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.
Xiaonan Liu, Yi Ding, Xirui Lu
Nuclear Technology | Volume 198 | Number 1 | April 2017 | Pages 64-69
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2017.1292810
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In this work, the immobilization of simulated radionuclide 90Sr by fly ash-slag-metakaolin–based geopolymer was investigated. It was found that the thermal stability (high-temperature and freeze-thaw resistance) of the geopolymer waste forms were better than that of cement. The geopolymer waste forms can acquire a compressive strength up to 10 MPa after 2 h calcination at 1000°C. Furthermore, the leaching tests revealed that the fly ash-slag-metakaolin–based geopolymer waste forms had lower cumulative fraction leaching rates of 90Sr than that of cement. These results gave encouragement for the idea that the fly ash-slag-metakaolin–based geopolymers could be used as low cost and high efficiency host materials for the immobilization of radioactive wastes.
