Design themes for future hybrid nuclear power plant control rooms

Shilo ANDERS, Jie XU*, Dan FRANCE, Matthew B. WEINGER, Julie A. ADAMS, Katya LEBLANC

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Book Chapters | Papers in Conference ProceedingsConference paper (refereed)Researchpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

As nuclear power plants (NPP) control rooms are updated and new technologies added, a new hybrid control room is set to emerge and with it new safety implications for design. This paper highlights two technologies determined to be highly relevant for control room modernization: overview displays and computer-based procedures. Control room operators were observed in the simulator, while conducting abnormal and emergency scenarios. Additionally, operators were observed and interviewed in the control room during normal operations. Design themes for both of the technologies are discussed. Results revealed ten main design themes for overview displays, including observations of the system used currently in order to provide overview information. The results revealed three main design themes for computer-based procedures that were more directed at an envisioned world, since these technologies are not deployed currently. This evaluation elicited considerations for requirements for future control room system designs and recommendations for hybrid NPP control rooms.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication10th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2017
PublisherAmerican Nuclear Society
Pages2069-2076
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781510851160
Publication statusPublished - 2017
Externally publishedYes

Funding

This research was supported by funding from the Department of Energy: Nuclear Energy University Program grant #NE0008267.

Keywords

  • Human-machine interface
  • Interface design
  • Overview displays
  • Qualitative

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