Coordination‐behavior patterns of control crews in digital nuclear power plants during emergencies from a network perspective: An exploratory study

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the coordination‐behavior patterns of control crews in digital nuclear power plants (NPPs) during emergencies from a network perspective. We observed and coded 12 coordination processes (each from one crew) of handling simulated emergencies on a full‐scope dynamic simulator in Tianwan NPP of China. By calculating the proportion of coordination breakdowns and referring to the subjective evaluation of instructors, these control crews (all male) were classified into two performance levels (high and low). To compare the coordination‐behavior patterns between high‐ and low‐performing crews, we conducted social network analysis based on the number and direction of coordination behaviors. By examining intracrew relations in team coordination, this study indicated that high‐performing crews exhibited higher cohesion and more balanced behavioral patterns in team coordination than low‐performing ones. By investigating coordination‐behavior patterns from the hierarchical structure of relations in the team, this study revealed that high‐performing crews exhibited higher degree of team autonomy and self‐management among junior operators, as well as reactor operator (RO)‐centered pattern, whereas the low‐performing crews exhibited senior reactor operator‐centered pattern. For researchers, the results advance the understanding of the team coordination mechanism in NPP control rooms during emergencies and enrich team coordination theory in process control industries from the network perspective. In practice, this study suggested that the team coordination training of NPP control crews might be centered around junior operators (especially RO), with focuses on facilitating information sharing and mutual assistance between junior operators and enhancing the awareness of active cooperation of crew members. The results of the study provide nuclear instructors with practical reference to team coordination training and processes optimization.

The application of a system‐based risk management framework and social network analysis to the Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship system: Who are the decision‐makers in the wider system?

“…The global and nodal metrics used for the analysis can be seen in Table 2, along with their definitions. These network metrics were chosen as they have been used to analyse networks in several other applications to identify key nodes within networks and assess network dynamics such as distributed flight crews (Stanton et al, 2016), driving automation (Banks & Stanton, 2016; Banks et al, 2019), digital nuclear power plant controls crews (Zhang et al, 2022), and submarine command teams (Stanton et al, 2017). The global and nodal metrics were calculated using the Social Network Analysis tool AGNA (Benta, 2005), and the power centrality diagrams were produced using the Social Network Visualizer tool, SocNet V (Kalamaras, 2021).…”