Predicting nuclear power-plant operator performance using discrete event simulation
A study was conducted to evaluate the use of discrete event simulation (DES) to predict human performance in a nuclear power plant control room environment. Computer simulation models of two disturbance scenarios were built using a simulation software program, Micro Saint. In parallel, data were also collected at a full-scope training simulator at the Halden man-machine laboratory (HAMMLAB) in Halden, Norway, using crews of commercial nuclear power plant operators from the Loviisa nuclear power plant in Loviisa, Finland. Comparisons were made between predicted operator performance data generated by the simulation models and crew performance in the HAMMLAB experiment to determine the degree of agreement between the simulated data and the data from operators. The models were then used to extrapolate advanced control room conditions and alarm systems that were not tested in the HAMMLAB experiment. This report summarizes these findings and provides recommendations for improvements to the DES approach for use by a regulatory agency.
nuclear simulation modeling regulatory validation