Demonstration and Evaluation of the Human-Technology Integration Function Allocation Methodology

Abstract

There is an imminent need for the existing nuclear power plants to reduce their operating and maintenance (O&M) costs to remain economically viable. Digital technology, including automation, provides a significant opportunity for the existing nuclear power plant fleet to transform the way in which work is accomplished, reducing O&M costs, and allowing the fleet to remain economically competitive. One notable opportunity to significantly reduce O&M costs pertains to modifications to the plant equipment and main control room (MCR).Existing instrumentation and control (I&C) technologies in the MCR are highly analog, costly to operate and maintain, and demand a high cognitive and physical workload from plant staff (i.e., operators). Digitalizing the MCR has a range of broad economic benefits, including improved plant performance and reduced manual work. Further, digital I&C systems can fundamentally change the way in which plant staff operate the plant; this is the concept of operation. Human-technology integration is important to ensure that impacts to the concept of operation are done in a way that account for capabilities of people and technology. Human-technology integration employs human factors engineering (HFE) methods and principles to maximize the benefits of digital technology, reducing human error, improving overall decision-making and usability.The U.S. Department of Energy Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program is applying human-technology integration research to ensure digital technologies are safe, reliable, and efficient. This paper documents the demonstration of the human-technology guidance developed by the Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program from a first-of-a-kind digital I&C upgrade, specifically addressing function analysis and allocation for a new digital I&C system that included changes in automation levels. The program's specific approach is included in this work, following lessons learned. This document serves as a resource for industry to follow in applying human-technology integration and HFE to digital modifications, specific to function analysis and allocation. The lessons learned should be considered in the planning and execution of HFE activities that support such digital modifications.

Addressing Human and Organizational Factors in Nuclear Industry Modernization: A Sociotechnically-Based Strategic Framework

“…Examples of the successful application of this approach have been presented. (See above and Kovesdi, et al 33 ).…”

“…An extended application of the socio-technical approach described above is presented in Kovesdi, et al 33 These were conducted in partnership with a utility concerned about modernization. This approach was applied to the analysis and design of two separate modernization use cases within the utility partner's operations.…”

Light Water Sustainability Program: Optimizing Information Automation Using a New Method Based on System-Theoretic Process Analysis

“…Much of the U.S.' nuclear power industry is either considering or is actively engaged in a fundamental shift toward modernizing technologies and procedures. The transition from analog to digital technology, or digitalization, (e.g., Hunton et al, 2020) and from other increasingly obsolete to emerging technologies (e.g., Kovesdi et al, 2021) is at the center of many of these efforts. Technologies such as automation, AI, machine learning (ML), robotics, and virtual systems are all under consideration to increase NPP safety, efficiency, and operational cost-effectiveness.…”

“…The interfaces themselves could take a number of possible forms, including digital, multisensory, and virtual displays. Regarding the latter, with enough proper sensors placed in key locations throughout the plant, a virtual presence could enable effective information transmission while also addressing reduced staffing concerns (Kovesdi et al, 2021). For instance, should a troubling signal occur indicating a potential issue somewhere in the plant, the proper user, upon being notified, could "go there" right away, even if the plant was in another state.…”

“…This research is being conducted as part of the Department of Energy's Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) Program and its efforts, in partnership with industry, to support NPP modernization through effective human-systems integration (HSI). It builds on prior work focused on the design and integration of new technologies into existing NPP processes (Kovesdi et al, 2021) as well as a prior STAMP-based analysis of a scram incident related to a new digital instrumentation and control system .…”