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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.
Xiaole Wang, Leisheng Chen, Ruixiang Sun, Jaeyoung Lee
Nuclear Technology | Volume 211 | Number 8 | August 2025 | Pages 1662-1673
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2024.2425915
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Inserting small spheres of a fixed size into a pebble bed can enhance heat transfer, lower the surface temperature of fuel elements, and reduce the risk of local hot spots. However, does a multisized pebble bed outperform a double-sized pebble bed in terms of heat transfer? To address this question, numerical simulations were conducted to evaluate the heat transfer characteristics of face-centered-cubic-structured pebble beds with two and three types of small spheres, maintaining a constant solid volume. The results showed that the average heat transfer coefficients of the multisized pebble bed were nearly identical to those of the double-sized bed. This suggests that using two types of small spheres does not necessarily provide better heat transfer performance than using a double-sized bed. Additionally, the number, size, and placement of the spheres influenced the pressure drop. These findings offer insights into the heat transfer behavior of high-temperature reactor cores and provide a useful reference for the design of future pebble bed reactor cores.