Jacques Hugo

A QUALITATIVE METHOD TO ESTIMATE HSI DISPLAY COMPLEXITY

There is mounting evidence that complex computer system displays in control rooms contribute to cognitive complexity and, thus, to the probability of human error. Research shows that reaction time increases and response accuracy decreases as the number of elements in the display screen increase. However, in terms of supporting the control room operator, approaches focusing on addressing display complexity solely in terms of information density and its location and patterning, will fall short of delivering a properly designed interface. This paper argues that information complexity and semantic complexity are mandatory components when considering display complexity and that the addition of these concepts assists in understanding and resolving differences between designers and the preferences and performance of operators. This paper concludes that a number of simplified methods, when combined, can be used to estimate the impact that a particular display may have on the operators ability to perform a function accurately and effectively. We present a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach and a method for complexity estimation.

Development of a Technical Basis and Guidance for Advanced SMR Function Allocation

This report presents the results from three key activities for FY13 that influence the definition of new concepts of operations for advanced Small Modular Reactors (AdvSMR: a) the development of a framework for the analysis of the functional environmental, and structural attributes, b) the effect that new technologies and operational concepts would have on the way functions are allocated to humans or machines or combinations of the two, and c) the relationship between new concepts of operations, new function allocations, and human performance requirements.

HUMAN FACTORS AND THE NUCLEAR RENAISSANCE

Following the Three Mile Island incident and the Chernobyl accident, there was a general decline in public acceptance of nuclear power plants. Consequently, there was a heavy push to ensure the safety of existing plants coupled with a large-scale decline in the development of new plants. This situation has posed unique challenges to human factors within the nuclear industry. The emphasis of research came in the form of ensuring the safety of as-built systems. This approach clashed with broader human factors work, which used a variety of innovative approaches to design novel or incrementally improved interfaces. The situation is changing now. As current plants near the end of their operational life, there is an urgent need to develop new plants and modernize aging plants to sustain current energy production levels and, in many countries, to meet growing power demands. The resurgence of interest in nuclear energy has been called the “nuclear renaissance.” The challenge for human factors is now to go beyond as-built safety requirements and provide innovative interface concepts that maximize human performance in new plants. The purpose of this panel is to bring together established and new human factors professionals in nuclear energy to discuss the opportunities and challenges for research, practice, and regulation of this nuclear renaissance.

Human Factors Engineering Aspects of Modifications in Control Room Modernization

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Towards an Operational Concept for Advanced Nuclear Power Plants

Advanced nuclear power plants currently being designed are characterized by structural, functional and operational features that are uncommon in the current generation of plants worldwide. Due to the long worldwide hiatus in the development of new nuclear power plants most of these issues and the implications of new operational concepts have never been evaluated in detail. This paper is a summary of the results a four-year project at the Idaho National Laboratory to develop a systematic process to analyze the operational requirements of new plants. The paper describes a method to produce reliable information for the design of robust and resilient systems that allow dynamic collaboration between operators and plant systems. It also provides examples of the application of this method to the development of an operational concept for advanced nuclear power plants, with examples from sodium fast reactors (SFRs).

A Framework for Human Performance Criteria for Advanced Reactor Operational Concepts

This report supports the determination of new Operational Concept models needed in support of the operational design of new reactors. The objective of this research is to establish the technical bases for human performance and human performance criteria frameworks, models, and guidance for operational concepts for advanced reactor designs. The report includes a discussion of operating principles for advanced reactors, the human performance issues and requirements for human performance based upon work domain analysis and current regulatory requirements, and a description of general human performance criteria. The major findings and key observations to date are that there is some operating experience that informs operational concepts for baseline designs for SFR and HGTRs, with the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II) as a best-case predecessor design. This report summarizes the theoretical and operational foundations for the development of a framework and model for human performance criteria that will influence the development of future Operational Concepts. The report also highlights issues associated with advanced reactor design and clarifies and codifies the identified aspects of technology and operating scenarios.

Ergonomic Safety and Health Activities to Support Commercial Nuclear Power Plant Control Room Modernization in the United States

Affordable, abundant, and reliable electricity generation is essential to fueling a nation’s robust and globally competitive economy. In the United States (U.S.), commercial nuclear power plants (NPPs) account for approximately 19% of reliable and cost-competitive base load electricity generation. Other technologies that reduce reliance on fossil fuels and provide base load electricity cost-competitively at a national scale are still under development. Thus, without suitable replacements for nuclear power, the generating capacity of nuclear energy in the U.S. must be continued through the safe and efficient operation of commercial NPPs. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) research and development (R&D) program provides the technical bases for the long-term, safe, and economical operation of NPPs. One area in the LWRS program is the Plant Modernization pathway, which includes human factors R&D, human factors engineering (HFE), and ergonomics to enable the modernization of the instrumentation and control (I&C) technologies in NPP main control rooms. DOE researchers, including ergonomics specialists at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), have collaborated with numerous commercial NPP utilities over the last few years on control room modernization. This paper summarizes recent ergonomics safety and health R&D and HFE performed in collaboration with a U.S. commercial utility to modernize their NPP control rooms.

DEVELOPMENT OF OPERATIONAL CONCEPTS FOR ADVANCED SMRs: THE ROLE OF COGNITIVE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Advanced small modular reactors (AdvSMRs) will use advanced digital instrumentation and control systems, and make greater use of automation. These advances not only pose technical and operational challenges, but will inevitably have an effect on the operating and maintenance cost of new plants. However, there is much uncertainty about the impact of AdvSMR designs on operational and human factors considerations, such as workload, situation awareness, human reliability, staffing levels, and the appropriate allocation of functions between the crew and various automated plant systems. Existing human factors and systems engineering design standards and methodologies are not current in terms of human interaction requirements for dynamic automated systems and are no longer suitable for the analysis of evolving operational concepts. New models and guidance for operational concepts for complex socio-technical systems need to adopt a state-of-the-art approach such as Cognitive Systems Engineering (CSE) that gives due consideration to the role of personnel. The approach described here helps to identify and evaluate human challenges related to non-traditional operational concepts. A framework for defining operational strategies was developed based on an analysis of the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II), a small (20MWe) sodium-cooled reactor that was successfully operated for thirty years. Insights from the application of the systematic application of the methodology and its utility are reviewed and arguments for the formal adoption of CSE as a value-added part of the Systems Engineering process are presented.

Draft Function Allocation Framework and Preliminary Technical Basis for Advanced SMR Concepts of Operations

This report presents preliminary research results from the investigation into the development of new models and guidance for Concepts of Operations in advanced small modular reactor (AdvSMR) designs. AdvSMRs are nuclear power plants (NPPs), but unlike conventional large NPPs that are constructed on site, AdvSMRs systems and components will be fabricated in a factory and then assembled on site. AdvSMRs will also use advanced digital instrumentation and control systems, and make greater use of automation. Some AdvSMR designs also propose to be operated in a multi-unit configuration with a single central control room as a way to be more cost-competitive with existing NPPs. These differences from conventional NPPs not only pose technical and operational challenges, but they will undoubtedly also have regulatory compliance implications, especially with respect to staffing requirements and safety standards.