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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.
E. Kozlova, I. Strasik, A. Fertman, E. Mustafin, T. Radon, R. Hinca, M. Pavlovic, G. Fehrenbacher, H. Geissel, A. Golubev, H. Iwase, D. Schardt
Nuclear Technology | Volume 168 | Number 3 | December 2009 | Pages 747-751
Heavy Ion Transport | 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 Protection | doi.org/10.13182/NT09-A9300
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The activation of structures and surroundings of new high-intensity heavy-ion accelerators like the Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) is an important issue. Monte Carlo codes such as FLUKA allow the prediction of the production of individual radioactive isotopes and the induced radioactivity that causes the main contribution to the radiation exposure of personnel. The work is a benchmark study of activation predictions for uranium beams with 500 and 950 MeV/u deposited in copper and stainless steel targets. Precise gamma spectrometry measurements for isotope identification have been carried out with a HPGe detector. All gamma-emitting radionuclides with half-lives of more than 2 days that contribute significantly to the residual dose rates have been studied. The benchmark study shows that FLUKA is a suitable code for the prediction of induced radioactivity at medium-energy heavy-ion accelerators.