ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2026
Nuclear Technology
August 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
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.
Riyadh M. Motny, Michael E. Woods, Supathorn Phongikaroon
Nuclear Technology | Volume 206 | Number 12 | December 2020 | Pages 1932-1944
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2020.1730672
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The leaching behavior of cerium and cesium from different mixtures of rapid setting cement (RSC) with deionized water (DIW) and artificial seawater (ASW) under both dynamic and static leach conditions was investigated according to the method in American National Standard ANSI/ANS-16.1-2003. The leachate solution was collected, diluted with HNO3, and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry after leaching periods of 2, 7, and 24 h and 2, 3, 4, 5, 14, 28, 43, and 90 days. Two models [the first-order reaction model (FRM) and the diffusion model (DM)] and their combination [the first-order reaction/diffusion model (FRDM)] were fitted to assess the leaching parameters and identify the type of immobilized radionuclides in the RSC matrix. The result indicated that leaching of 140Ce and 133Cs from the RSC matrices with DIW and ASW under both dynamic and static leach conditions was less than 20% and suggested that the leaching behavior of 140Ce and 133Cs approximated that of a semi-infinite medium. The leaching phenomena of 140Ce and 133Cs could not be fully represented with a single model (the FRM and the DM), and the FRDM was best fitted to these experimental data sets. Overall, the average leachability index L values for 140Ce and 133Cs were greater than the minimum limit indicating their acceptance for disposal recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency. It could also be stated that RSC with DIW or ASW had a potential for immobilizing radioactive materials.
