SBIR-STTR Award

The purpose of phase I of this research project is to critically review the existing computerized EOP systems for both PWR and BWR plants, developed by various national and international organizations to fully understand their advantages, disadvantages and limitations in terms of their impact on operators performance and reliability and recommend one system or a composite of several systems, before starting to design and develop another computerized EOP system. This research would of for the opportunity to select the best combination of technical and human factors features to achieve a highly reliable operator support system. As part of phase I research, a survey will be conducted at a host plant with operators to elucidate their opinions on a useful and user-friendly system. Res:

In Phase I, a number of computerized EOP systems were critiqued from a human factors/reliability point of view. Also, a draft evaluation taxonomy and some simple reliability models of the control room operating crews and computerized EOP systems were produced. The Phase II work is to build upon Phase I, to accomplish the following: evaluation of the computerized EOP systems in terms of their technical and ergonomic characteristics and generate a comprehensive list of questions to guide reviewers; develop phenomenological and reliability models of various users/systems and apply the reliability models to a couple of risk significant sequences in a published PRA; develop ground rules for systems application, and potential licensing issues; and develop methods to validate the systems. Phase II will develop phenomenological and reliability models. Notional impact on safety will be derived from reliability models used in a number of PRA sequences. The application of the reliability models will produce insights into safety issues. In addition, an evaluation taxonomy and a questionnaire will be developed. These will help reviewers understand the EOP systems and their plant applications.

Anticipated Results:
Results of this project (Phases I and II- will be the development of both phenomenological and reliability models of the crew and EOP system interactions. Ground rules will be developed for the selection and application of computerized EOP systems, including training needs. The enhancement to safety of these systems will be addressed. APG can advise potential users on which system would fit their needs, how to integrate them into their control room activities, how to validate their use, and how to address their impact on crew training. The potential commercial application is services in the above areas.