Technical Basis for Physical Fidelity of NRC Control Room Training Simulators for Advanced Reactors

Abstract

This report provides the technical basis for physical fidelity requirements of simulator technology to train U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff for their duties in upcoming nuclear power reactor control rooms (CRs). It assembles information from published research, expert opinion, review of next-generation CR designs, and a survey of 97 NRC resident inspectors (RI) and operator licensing examiners (OLE) to evaluate training needs, past experience with CR simulator training, and the importance of human-system interface (HSI) systems to the tasks that comprise the CR duties of RIs and OLEs. To provide a foundation for prioritizing training and evaluating simulator physical fidelity needs, the project team developed a Task/Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSA) Inventory and analyzed the identified inventory items in terms of difficulty to perform, importance to safety, and frequency of performance.. The survey results provide an estimate of the degree and impact of differences in physical fidelity between the training simulator and the CR/simulator and assignment plants.v Executive SummaryThe U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) Technical Training Center (TCC) must develop training programs for NRC staff who will regulate advanced, or Generation III and III+, nuclear power reactors. Training in a control room (CR) simulator is an important part of the NRC training program. There is little information available on training needs or training approaches for individuals who will perform oversight tasks, and even less information on the specific needs of NRC oversight personnel. Training for jobs that involve 'hands-on' or supervisory operation/control and maintenance-aircraft pilots, medical personnel, mechanics, power plant operators, etc.-rather than jobs that involve overseeing the work of others has been the focus of most research on simulator fidelity needs and impacts. In the absence of specific empirical data, the general assumption has often been made that, high levels of simulator fidelity are needed if simulator training is to be effective. This assumption can lead to unnecessarily expensive simulators with a level of fidelity that is not only unnecessary but detrimental to effective training. To address this lack of information, the TTC commissioned Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to evaluate the training needs of staff being prepared to regulate advanced reactors and the factors that affect simulator physical fidelity requirements to provide a stronger, morespecific technical basis for decisions about the fidelity of training simulators.The fidelity of CR simulators is a multi-dimensional concept. This project's focus is on physical fidelity, specifically the level of physical fidelity needed to train both new-hire personnel, who may have no previous experience with any sort of nuclear power plant (NPP) CR, and experienced personnel, who will be assigned to advanced (Generation III and III+) NNP reactors. The overall approach of this project was not research, in the sen...

Multi-dimensional Workload in Two Types of Nuclear Power Plant Simulators

“…As long as the digital simulator adheres to the "equal (Lackey, Reinerman-Jones, & Salcedo, 2014), it is promising to utilize appropriate samples with parttask simulator to carry out scientific research. In addition, in terms of training, such part-task simulators can be an important supplement to regular simulator training on specific tasks (Minsk et al, 2009). Although no significant effect was found in any of the ECG metrics, the results showed a similar trend as subjective measures.…”