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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.
Koichi Asakura, Kentaro Takeuchi, Takayoshi Makino, Yoshiyuki Kato
Nuclear Technology | Volume 167 | Number 3 | September 2009 | Pages 348-361
Technical Paper | Fuel Cycle and Management | doi.org/10.13182/NT09-A9075
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Technological feasibility of a simplified mixed-oxide (MOX) pellet fabrication process, the short process, was studied. About 300 g of microwave heating denitrated (MH)-MOX powder with adjusted plutonium content to 30% could be successfully processed by a tumbling granulator for subsequent pelletizing and sintering processes. The granulated 30%PuO2-MOX powder could be pressed into green annular pellets directly and smoothly when using a die wall lubrication method. The pellet tensile strengths were compared for a granulated molybdenum powder that has similar characteristics to those of granulated 30%PuO2-MOX powder, and they were higher for pellets obtained when using the die wall lubrication method than when using the conventional powder mixing method. The amount of additives in the green pellets could be controlled at a low value of 0.06 wt% in this process. It is, therefore, possible to carry out dewaxing and sintering of green pellets in the same furnace. By controlling the average particle sizes of granulated 30%PuO2-MOX powders, pellets with more than 95% theoretical density could be obtained after sintering at 1700°C for 2 h.As a result, it can be concluded that the short process is technologically feasible to fabricate MOX annular pellets.
