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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.
Tetsuya Mouri, Taira Hazama, Hiroki Katagiri, Kazuya Ohgama
Nuclear Technology | Volume 211 | Number 1 | January 2025 | Pages 143-160
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2024.2323228
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The reliability and usefulness of the reaction rate distribution data measured in the prototype fast breeder reactor Monju were examined through a comparison with a calculation using JENDL-4.0, mainly focusing on shielding regions around the reactor core. The reaction rates of 238U (n,f) and 58Ni (n,p) sensitive to high-energy neutrons were all judged reliable. The calculation-to-experiment values were slightly worse in the shielding regions; however, those for the 58Ni (n,p) reaction rates were improved by employing JEFF-3.3 instead of JENDL-4.0. A different tendency was observed between the two reactions, probably due to the 238U (n,f) cross section in the energy range of around 700 eV. The reaction rates of 235U (n,f), 239Pu (n,f), 238U (n,γ), and 197Au (n,γ) sensitive to the lower-energy neutrons were mostly judged reliable. The data in the lower axial shielding region are less reliable but may be acceptable for the shielding calculation.