AUTOMATION OF NUCLEAR-POWER-PLANTS

In consideration of the present interest in stand-alone nuclear power plants (NPPs) and the potential role of automation of land-based NPPs, a simplified two-level control model for operating a representative plant is assumed. Human factors analysis of three control strategies shows that replacing the senior operator level by a high-level supervisory fuzzy or rule-based controller provides a viable strategy that can free the senior operator for important operational tasks other than vigilance and attendance to details of equipment or subsystems operation. By monitoring plant performance and providing global control actions, the operator can play a more positive role in plant protection and power production.