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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.
H. Duarte
Nuclear Technology | Volume 168 | Number 3 | December 2009 | Pages 596-600
Nuclear Data | Special Issue on the 11th International Conference on Radiation Shielding and the 15th Topical Meeting of the Radiation Protection and Shielding Division (PART 3) / Radiation Measurement and Instrumentation | doi.org/10.13182/NT09-A9275
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
We present recent changes in our nonelastic reaction code BRIEFF and especially in the fast stage of reaction described by the intranuclear cascade (INC) code BRIC. Distributions and excitation functions of residual nuclei production cross sections are shown for proton-induced reaction on target nuclei. Slight improvements are seen in the proton-induced reaction on light nuclei with a closed shell when the energy levels are taken into account in the INC stage. On the other hand, fission gives poor results in the current version. To compare to other nuclear models and LA150 libraries, BRIEFF has been incorporated into MCNPX 2.5.0. Examples of neutron production from thick target irradiation by proton beams between 30 and 350 MeV are presented. Except for some discrepancies, a good agreement with data is obtained on average.
