In cases where a "replica" plant-referenced full scope simulator is not available, it may be necessary for operators to receive their training with a computer simulation or to travel to another plant that has a simulator. This publication provides information and guidance on various aspects of the use of control room simulators.
Training is an important tool to achieve and maintain the required competence of personnel working in nuclear facilities. Effective training and qualification of personnel are necessary for the achievement of high safety and efficiency standards in nuclear facility performance. Training and qualification combined is a key feature of the integrated management systems of nuclear facilities. It is these considerations that led to this publication which consolidates the experience gained worldwide using the systematic approach to training (SAT) for nuclear facility personnel. It provides a basis for establishing and sustaining the quality and reliability of training and qualification for all main categories of nuclear facility personnel. SAT has proved its effectiveness in nuclear and other safety critical industries over decades and is recognized as the best international practice in nuclear training. The publication details the processes and methodology, presents good practices and offers recommendations from the experts in the field on the entire set of activities within the SATbased training methodology and provides examples of SAT application. It builds on, and supersedes, guidance provided in an earlier IAEA publication (Technical Report Series 380, Nuclear Power Plant Personnel Training and its Evaluation: A Guidebook). A key feature of this publication is demonstrating how SATbased training serves as one of the important processes in a nuclear facility management system and how it integrates with other processes.
The use of simulators for the training and qualification of nuclear power plant (NPP) control room operating personnel has become a standard practice throughout the world to develop and reinforce knowledge of plant systems and their relationships. It is an approach to increase the ability to apply plant procedures, to advance practical skills in operating the plant in normal, abnormal and emergency conditions, and to build supervisory skills and teamwork. Simulators are also utilized to conduct the authorization or licensing examinations of control room operating personnel, and there is an increasing trend in the use of simulators for non-training purposes. This publication provides Member States with comprehensive guidance on NPP operator training and describes the use of simulators in training and qualification programmes for the personnel. Current trends in the use of simulators in training programmes, as well as approaches to maintaining and upgrading simulators, are also presented.
The Halden Man-Machine Laboratory (HAMMLAB) has been at the heart of human factors research at the OECD Halden Reactor Project (HRP). The HRP is sponsored by a group of national organizations, representing nuclear power plant regulators, utilities, and research institutions. The HRP is hosted by the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) in Halden, Norway. HAMMLAB comprises three full-scale nuclear power plant control room research simulators. The simulator studies performed in HAMMLAB have traditionally been experimental in nature. In a simulator it is possible to study events as they unfold in real time, in a highly realistic operational environment under partially controlled conditions. This means that a wide range of human factors issues, which would be impossible or highly impracticable to study in real-life settings, can thus be addressed in HAMMLAB. Simulator-based Human Factors Studies Across 25 Years celebrates the twenty-fifth anniversary of HAMMLAB by reviewing the human factors studies performed in HAMMLAB across this time-span. A range of human factors issues have been addressed, including: • human-system interfaces; • alarm systems; • computerized procedures; • human-automation interaction; • staffing, teamwork and human reliability. The aim of HAMMLAB studies has always been the same: to generate knowledge for solving current and future challenges in nuclear power plant operation to contribute to safety. The outcomes of HAMMLAB studies have been used to support design and assessment of nuclear power plant control rooms.
The quality of nuclear power plant personnel training is dependent upon the availability of competent instructors. This book is a follow-up to Technical Reports Series No. 380, Nuclear Power Plant Personnel Training and its Evaluation, A Guidebook, and provides further details concerning the development of instructors for NPP personnel training.
The potential development of any nuclear power programme should include a rigorous justification process reviewing the substantial regulatory, economic and technical information necessary for implementation, given the long term commitments involved in any new nuclear power project. Infrastructure and methodologies for the justification of nuclear power programmes reviews the fundamental issues and approaches to nuclear power justification in countries considering nuclear new build or redevelopment.Part one covers the infrastructure requirements for any new nuclear power programme, with chapters detailing the role and responsibilities of government, regulatory bodies and nuclear operator and the need for human resources and technical capability at the national level. Part two focuses on issues relevant to the justification process, including nuclear safety, radiation protection and emergency planning. Current designs and advanced reactors and radioactive waste management are also considered, along with the economic, social and environmental impacts of nuclear power development. Part three reviews the development of nuclear power programme, from nuclear power plant site selection and licensing, through construction and operation, and on to decommissioning. Finally, a series of valuable appendices detail the UK experience of justification, nuclear safety culture and training, and the multinational design evaluation programme (MDEP).With its distinguished editor and expert team of contributors, Infrastructure and methodologies for the justification of nuclear power programmes is an essential reference for international and national stakeholders in this field, particularly governmental, non-governmental and regulatory bodies, nuclear power operators and consultants. - Offers a comprehensive analysis of the infrastructure and methodologies required to justify the creation of nuclear power programmes in any country - Provides coverage of the main issues and potential benefit linked to nuclear power - Reviews the implementation of a nuclear power programme with particular reference to the requirements and methods involved in construction
The nuclear industry and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) have been working for several years on the development of an adequate process to guide the replacement of aging analog monitoring and control instrumentation in nuclear power plants with modern digital instrumentation without introducing off-setting safety problems. This book identifies criteria for the USNRC's review and acceptance of digital applications in nuclear power plants. It focuses on eight areas: software quality assurance, common-mode software failure potential, systems aspects of digital instrumentation and control technology, human factors and human-machine interfaces, safety and reliability assessment methods, dedication of commercial off-the-shelf hardware and software, the case-by-case licensing process, and the adequacy of technical infrastructure.
Intelligent systems are required to facilitate the use of information provided by the internet and other computer based technologies. This book describes the state-of-the-art in Intelligent Automation and Systems Engineering. Topics covered include Intelligent decision making, Automation, Robotics, Expert systems, Fuzzy systems, Knowledge-based systems, Knowledge extraction, Large database management, Data analysis tools, Computational biology, Optimization algorithms, Experimental designs, Complex system identification, Computational modeling, Systems simulation, Decision modeling, and industrial applications.
