Human Factors Verification and Validation: Tecnatom’s Experience

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Trueba Alonso ◽  
Lui´s Ferna´ndez Illobre ◽  
Alfonso Jime´nez Ferna´ndez-Sesma ◽  
Fernando Ortega Pascual
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Verification And Validation ◽  
Regulatory Body ◽  
Human Factors Engineering ◽  
Human Engineering ◽  
Task Support ◽  
Methodological Aspects

Tecnatom has been performing Human Factors Engineering Verification and Validation (HFE V&V) from the mid-eighties. This activity started as one of the various activities of the post TMI requirements followed also in Spain: performing detailed Control Room Design Reviews (DCRDRs). All the existing Spanish Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) were reviewed to identify Human Engineering Discrepancies (HEDs). DCRDRs were completed by the mid-nineties, and the following V&V activities have been related to new designs and plant modifications as part of the activities described in the Human Factors Program Review Model (HFE PRM), included in NUREG-0711 since 1994. The NRC recommends following the HFE PRM or an acceptable alternative method in the case of the HFE activities and the Spanish Regulatory Body (CSN) recommend the same approach for new designs, design modifications and even for conventional plants. The activities embedded in a HFE V&V process are Task Support Verification (TSV), HFE Design Verification (HFE DV) using NUREG-0700 HFE Guidelines, and Integrated System Validation (ISV), with the execution of performance based tests, mainly in simulator facilities. This paper describes some of the experience of Tecnatom during the past years regarding the execution of these V&V activities previously mentioned, and in relation to the applicability and methodological aspects of each of these activities. Methodological aspects regarding TSV are related to its execution when there is a no Task Analysis to use. Methodological aspects regarding the HFE DV are related to the type of HSI to verify (small or large), its development status (paper design or implemented), the selection and translation of applicable HFE guidelines, and the HED preparation. Methodological aspects regarding the ISV are related to the necessary crews, training, number of scenarios, issues to test, data collection and performance measures. The experience is mainly related to Tecnatom’s work is Spanish NPP like Jose´ Cabrera, Almaraz and Vandello´s and in the case of foreign plants Beznau and an advanced NPP in Taiwan amongst others.

Human Factors Engineering Verification and Validation: A Case Study of a Nuclear Power Plant

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Song ◽  
Shuhui Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Verification And Validation ◽  
Human Factors Engineering ◽  
Design Guideline ◽  
Task Support ◽  
System Verification

Main control room in nuclear power plants (NPP) is a complex system where operators interact with a large amount of human system interface (HSI) resources, which is essential to the safety of the plant. In order to achieve a high standard of human factors engineering (HFE) level and ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the system, verification and validation (V&V) should be performed before the delivery of the plant. This study firstly represents an overview of the HFE project and V&V activities applied in the nuclear industry and relative researches, then, a V&V program from an ongoing 300MW NPP project is discussed in detail. Comparative methods, existing system vs. design requirements, are mainly applied for the verification phase. In the HFE Design Verification, 10 different HFE design guideline sets and corresponding checklists are developed for the experienced reviewers to conduct a thoroughness and consistency review. Critical safety functions, risk important tasks, critical human actions and other necessary operations are verified in the Task Support Verification to insure that HSI provides all required resources for personnel tasks. Other than direct comparison, a development platform is also used to assist the analysis of display, alarm and other appropriate features. In the validation phase, an integrated system test would be completed on a full scope simulator with the participation of experienced operators from the utility as subjects and multi-discipline observers. Scenarios are carefully designed to ensure the representative of the test. Both objective and subjective results would be collected and processed mainly by the descriptive statistics method to find out the problems in the existing design. All the discrepancies found in the whole V&V would be involved in a specific database and tracked until resolved. Lessons learned from this case are discussed.

Optimization Design Based on Human Factors V&V of Human System Interfaces in Nuclear Power Plant

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Xiaoyang ◽  
Deng Shiguang ◽  
Jiang Xingwei
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Optimization Design ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Intellectual Property Right ◽  
Control Room ◽  
Human System ◽  
Task Support ◽  
System Interfaces

The main control room, the monitor and control center of nuclear plant, integrates quantities of Human System Interfaces (HSIs), with which, the operators maintain the plant running safely and effectively under different working conditions[1]. Human Factors Verification and Validation (HF V&V) is one of the twelve elements of a Human Factor Engineering (HFE) program according to NUREG-0711. Research on V&V methods has been carried out for years, however, the V&V implementation in domestic nuclear power plants looks forward to being consummated. For HPR1000, the third generation of nuclear power technology with China’s self-owned independent intellectual property right[2], HF V&V activities include HSI HFE Design Verification (DV), HSI Task Support Verification (TSV), Partial Validation (PV), Integrated System Validation (ISV) and Human Engineering Discrepancy (HED) management. The V&V methods introduced in this paper gives an executable and effective way to evaluate whether the design conforms to HFE design principles and that the adequacy of the HSIs enable plant personnel to successfully perform their tasks and other operational goals, assuring plant safety. With these methods, plenty of suggestions based on the HEDs generated from different V&V activities are applied into the design of HSIs, and afterwards, an optimization for the main control room of HPR1000 will be achieved.

Developing an Integrated Energy System Interface for Electricity-Hydrogen Hybrid Nuclear Operations

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-96
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Ulrich ◽  
Roger Lew ◽  
Ronald L. Boring ◽  
Torrey Mortenson ◽  
Jooyoung Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Electricity Markets ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Human Factors Engineering ◽  
Engineering Project ◽  
Early Integration ◽  
Integrated Energy Systems

Nuclear power plants are looking towards integrated energy systems to address the challenges faced by increasing competition from renewable energy and cheap natural gas in wholesale electricity markets. Electricity-hydrogen hybrid operations is one potential technology being explored. As part of this investigation a human factors team was integrated into the overall engineering project to develop a human system interface (HSI) for a novel system to extract steam for a coupled hydrogen production process. This paper presents the process used to perform the nuclear specific human factors engineering required to develop the HSI for this novel and unprecedented system. Furthermore, the early integration of the human factors team and the meaningful improvements to the engineering of the system itself in addition to the successful development of the HSI for this particular application are described. Lastly, the HSI developed is presented to demonstrate the culmination of the process and disseminate a potential HSI design for electricity-hydrogen hybrid operations that may be useful for others exploring similar integrated energy systems concepts.

The implementation of a human factors engineering checklist for human–system interfaces upgrade in nuclear power plants

2009 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 1016-1025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yung-Tsan Jou ◽  
Chiuhsiang Joe Lin ◽  
Tzu-Chung Yenn ◽  
Chih-Wei Yang ◽  
Li-Chen Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Human Factors Engineering ◽  
Human System ◽  
System Interfaces

scholarly journals Enabling Business-Driven Innovation Through Human Factors Engineering In Nuclear Power Plants

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 1790-1794
Author(s):  
Casey R. Kovesdi ◽  
Katya Le Blanc
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Human Factors Engineering ◽  
The People ◽  
Industry Needs

For existing United States nuclear power plant fleet to remain economically viable, the nuclear industry needs to fundamentally change the way in which these plants are operated, maintained, and supported. A digital transformation is a key strategy to address this challenge. Though, guidance in this area is a continued effort. One framework to support innovation in the nuclear industry has taken a broader perspective by focusing on how technology can be used to meet specific business needs and work for the people and processes at hand. This work discusses the role and value of human factors engineering within this nuclear innovation framework. Human factors methods are presented here regarding how they address the phases of nuclear innovation. This work seeks to describe how human factors can be applied in nuclear innovation by strengthening the alignment of technology, people, processes, and regulations such that the needs of the business is addressed.

Human Factors and Safety in Nuclear Power Plant Control Rooms

1978 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 644-648
Author(s):  
C. Christian Stiehl ◽  
Michael J. Pfauth
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Large Earthquake ◽  
Regulatory Agencies ◽  
Human Engineering ◽  
Power Plant Control

The safety of nuclear power plants, particularly with regard to human factors concerns, has been the subject of several studies in the past few years. These studies have established the need for human factors research in nuclear power plants. Power plant operators and regulatory agencies have responded by funding further research and implementing safety programs that reflect human engineering principles. An example of an industry-sponsored research effort is reported. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the probable operator responses to a large earthquake in the vicinity of Pacific Gas and Electric's Diablo Canyon facility. As a result of this effort, several improvements were made in the control room and related facilities.

Epistemiation

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 1701-1705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald L. Boring ◽  
Roger Lew ◽  
Thomas A. Ulrich
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
System Design ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Verification And Validation ◽  
Knowledge Elicitation ◽  
Control Room ◽  
Design Activities ◽  
Control Rooms

The Guideline for Operational Nuclear Usability and Knowledge Elicitation (GONUKE) outlines multiple types and stages of human factors evaluation to support system design activities. Originally developed to support human factors requirements for control room modernization at nuclear power plants, GONUKE includes verification, validation, and epistemiation. Epistemiation is a novel term for the process in which knowledge from expert users is elicited to shape the design of the system. Especially in the case of control rooms, the importance of knowledge transfer between expert operators and system designers may prove more beneficial than traditional verification and validation. This paper outlines epistemiation, provides background on expert users, and illustrates the process through a case study. Although GONUKE and epistemiation are native to nuclear power applications, the approach is generalizable to other domains that feature expert users.

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