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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.
Sherrell R. Greene
Nuclear Technology | Volume 204 | Number 2 | November 2018 | Pages 131-146
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2018.1480213
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
This paper builds on previous work that characterized the nature of the nuclear power plant (NPP)–electric Grid system, the concept of Grid resilience, and the potential of current U.S. NPPs to enhance the U.S. Grid, integrated Critical Infrastructure, and societal resilience. The concept of a resilient nuclear power plant (rNPP) is defined. Two rNPP Key Attributes and Six rNPP Functional Requirements are presented. A preliminary discussion of some rNPP design features that could enable an NPP to achieve the Six rNPP Functional Requirements is presented, along with a preliminary discussion of some rNPP regulatory, siting, and economic considerations. Taken as a package, the Six rNPP Functional Requirements define an NPP performance envelope that extends the societal value proposition of nuclear energy well beyond that of traditional baseload electricity generation. The paper lays the foundation for exploration of high-value rNPP applications and for future rNPP conceptual design studies.