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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.
Jintae Hong, Kwang-Jae Son, Jong-Bum Kim, Jin-Joo Kim
Nuclear Technology | Volume 206 | Number 8 | August 2020 | Pages 1213-1223
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2019.1682899
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute is planning to launch a satellite for the Korea launch vehicle’s low orbit test in 2021. An electrically heated thermoelectric generator (ETG) with a mass of 850 g (small ETG) will be one of its selected payloads for this test flight. To assess and assure the design heritage and the reliability of the ETG in the space environment, a small ETG will be tested at the top of the satellite for more than a year. In this study, the design for a small ETG with 10 W(thermal) of heat input was developed through simulations such as heat transfer analysis, modal analysis, thermoelectric analysis, and structural analysis. Then a mock-up was fabricated and basic performance tests were carried out to be ready for the space environment test.