Outlook for Nuclear Power Presentations at the Technical Session of the Annual Meeting--November 1, 1979, Washington, D.C. (1980) / Chapter Skim
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Nuclear Power Reliability and Safety in Comparison to Other Major Technological Systems
Nuclear Power Reliability and Safety in Comparison to Other Major Technological Systems
Pages 32-44
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From page 32... ...
I believe that Three Mile Island can have a similar beneficial effect on the nuclear energy program; and I hope that Three Mile Island will be a catalyst to strengthen our nuclear industry, and not to destroy it. I prepared the substance of this paper in May l979, long before the report of the President's Commission on the accident at Three Mile Island (Kemeny report)
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From page 33... ...
Finally, whereas NASA is a single action-oriented agency, with clear lines of authority, and with individual responsibility assigned at each level of the organization, the same is not true in nuclear energy, where NASA is replaced by a combination of the NRC and the utilities. Because the differences I have just described are significant, some of the elements that were essential in the space program may not bear
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From page 34... ...
The design stretched the state of the art, not because we wanted to do that, but because we had to in order to accomplish the goal. We used large quantities of propellants, nearly 3,000 tons of oxygen, hydrogen, and kerosene, and a few more exotic ones; new materials were stretched beyond normal limits and designed for extreme light weight; computers and electronic systems were used in novel applications leading the state of the art; automated systems and sequences were carefully balanced with human operations.
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From page 35... ...
In every phase of design, manufacture, test, and operations, we held formal reviews, audits, and inspections. There were dozens of them, and they became a way of life: Preliminary Design Reviews, Critical Design Reviews, Design Certification Reviews, Customer Acceptance Readiness Reviews, Flight Readiness Reviews, Launch Readiness Reviews, and Safety Assessment Reviews.
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From page 36... ...
This is why, in manned spaceflight, we insisted upon operator input in the design, and this is also why we placed major emphasis on the selection, qualifications, training, and motivation of the operators. We began with highly motivated people -- astronauts, flight controllers, and the launch team.
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From page 37... ...
that obviously could be of considerable benefit to the nuclear power industry. These lessons cover a wide variety of fields and disciplines: systems design, control room design, instrumentation, information display, testing, failure reporting, selection and training, simulations, and many more.
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From page 38... ...
should be considered, and used where they apply. In my view, the best way to do this is to involve people who are experienced in design, operation, and management of space programs in responsible line positions in the nuclear industry.
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From page 39... ...
And so, the suggestion that the engineers lay their hearts in front of the public concerning risk also suggests that the engineers ought to have the privilege of telling people what the benefits are as well. That is, many times, out of our control, but nevertheless it is a responsibility that the technical community will have to pick up if it is necessary to publicly discuss all risks.
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From page 40... ...
Let's now consider the power that drives the airplane. When we started out, we had only one power plant, and it was obvious reasonably soon that we weren't going to get that power plant to operate reliably enough to make our airplanes into practical, safe flight vehicles.
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From page 41... ...
This may impose detailed knowledge of obscure backups, and constant training may still not assure one of complete crew familiarity. Thus the industry has developed a very interesting system that could be used elsewhere.
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From page 42... ...
Finally, I believe it is pertinent to emphasize helpful elements of the user-certifier-creator relationship. The test programs I have talked about -- the loading of test wings, as if operating, until they break; trying to explore the geriatrics of an airplane; the Iron Bird exercises -- are all shared by the creator, certifier, and user.
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From page 43... ...
They are authorized -- in fact, directed -- to run design reviews. They are, of course, monitored and constantly covered by fulltime FAA personnel who come directly from the certifying agency.
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From page 44... ...
We need to solve the energy problem that is facing us, just like I think we need to keep flying. I hope that nuclear power will get the long-delayed rational support it needs, and I hope that we won't be shamed into progress by some other more progressive nation.
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