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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.
R. G. Abrefah, P. A. A. Essel
Nuclear Technology | Volume 205 | Number 9 | September 2019 | Pages 1245-1250
Technical Note | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2019.1585736
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The high-enriched-uranium core of the Ghana Research Reactor-1 has been removed and replaced by low-enriched-uranium fuel. Some components of the reactor that were not transported to China as part of the Chinese take-back program will be managed and stored in Ghana. The amount of decay heat and activity in these components were estimated using the ORIGEN-S code in order to select the best waste management option and to protect the personnel that will handle these components. The results obtained showed relatively low decay heat and activity in the reactor components that were considered in this study.