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2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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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.
Maman Kartaman Ajiriyanto, Aslina Br. Ginting, Sungkono, Supardjo, Juan Carlos Sihotang
Nuclear Technology | Volume 211 | Number 5 | May 2025 | Pages 953-962
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2024.2365485
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Post-irradiation examination (PIE) of a low-enriched-uranium silicide fuel plate, irradiated in the Indonesian Reaktor Serba Guna–Gerrit Augustinus Siwabessy (RSG-GAS) multipurpose reactor, was successfully conducted. The objective of the PIE project was to evaluate the performance and integrity of the fuel under radiation exposure and, furthermore, to explore the potential for increasing the burnup level, enhancing its efficiency and effectiveness. The targeted fuel plate, identified as IDA0045, was extracted from the experimental silicide fuel element RI-SIE2, which had a burnup level of approximately 56% loss of 235U. A scanning electron microscope combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy microstructural examination and a Vickers microhardness test were conducted for the top, middle, and bottom sections of the fuel. The PIE results indicated minimal occurrence of fuel swelling and good fuel integrity under irradiation, suggesting the possibility of increasing the burnup level.