Lessons Learned from Plant Modernization Programs and their Implications for Reactor Design

Abstract

There is renewed interest in nuclear power in the United States and in constructing new reactors within the next decade. The new reactors likely will be based on advanced digital technology unlike most of the current plants. To better understand the human factors issues associated with these advanced systems, we studied plants that have undergone significant modernization using digital technology. Many of the lessons learned from these plants are also applicable to advanced designs and we are analyzing them with the goal of developing guidance for conducting safety reviews to ensure that both the modernization programs and advanced plant designs realize their potential safety and operational benefits and do not adversely impact human performance and safety. The purpose of this paper is to identify the lessons learned from the modernization programs and their implications for design reviews.

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