Nuclear power plant simulation facility evaluation methodology Page: 2 of 4
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P. M. Haas and R. J. Carter
Reliability and Hunan Factors Group
Engineering Physics and Mathematics Division
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
K. R. Laoghery, Jr.
Micro Analysis and Design
Boulder, Colorado
fibs tract
A methodology for evaluation of nuclear power
plant simulation facilities with regard tx their
acceptability for use in the U.S. Nuclear Regulator,
Commission (NEC) operator licensing exam is described.
The evaluation is based primarily on simulator
fidelity, but incorporates some aspects of direct
operator/trainee performance measurement. The panel
presentation and paper discuss data requirements, data
collection, data analysis and criteria for conclusions
regarding the fidelity evaluation, and suimarize the
proposed use of direct performance measurement. While
field testing and refinement of the methodology are
reoorniEnded, this initial effort provides a firm basis
for NHC to fully develop the necessary methdology.
Introduction
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has
proposed that revisions be made to Part 55 (Operating
Tests) of Title 10 to the "Code of Federal
Regulations" and to Regulatory Guide 1.149 (1984). If
the rule changes are enacted, the operating test would
be administered in a plant walk-through and in a
simulation facility, which could be the plant, a
plant-referenced simulator, or another simulation
device, alone or in combination. During the
simulation facility part of the operating test,
reactor operators would be assessed on their ability
to respond to normal plant operations and malfunctions
in a realistic environment. Hie proposed
modifications would require the facility licensee for
each nuclear power unit to evaluate their simulation
facility as to its appropriateness for the conduct of
the operating test.
NRC's Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
contracted to Oak Ridge National Laboratory (OH4L) for
the development of a methodology for performing the
simulation facility evaluations. Drafts of a proposed
handbook for evaluation [1] and of a technical report
describing the technical bases for the handbook [2]
have been produced which will be used as part of NRC's
basis to fully develop, test, and implement a
simulation facility evaluation process. This
presentatic summarizes the essential contents of the
proposed met odology/handbook.
Suamary of Methodology
Hie methodology is to be utilized during two
phases of the life-cycle, initial simulator acceptance
and recurrent analysis. Initial evaluation is aimed
at ensuring that the simulation facility provides an
accurate representation of the reference plant. There
are two components of initial simulator evaluation:
fidelity assessment and a direct determination of the
simulator's adequacy for operator testing (i.e.,
evaluation of operator/trainee performance).
Recurrent evaluation is aimed at ensuring that the
simulation facility continues to accurately represent:
the reference plant throughout the life of the
simulator. It involves three components: monitoring
reference plant changes, monitoring the simulator's
hardware, and examining the data from actual plant
transients as they occur.
An essential premise of the methodology is that
the simulation facility is not evaluated on a "go or
no-go" basis. Hat is, the decision as to a facility's
acceptability for licensing is not binary. Rather, the
evaluation is performed on a "task-by-task" basis. He
simulator may have acceptable fidelity for many tasks
and marginal or unacceptable fidelity for others.
Fidelity is not the "bottaa-line" of a simulator's
performance. He true determination of a simulation
facility's effectiveness is how the operators trained
and tested in the facility can perform in the plant.
However, since direqt measurement of operator
performance is difficult, inpractical, or even
impossible for many of the nuclear power plant (NPP)
tasks khich are tested, the measurement of simulator
fidelity is often the best measure that can reasonably
be taken. He methdology proposed relies heavily or
fidelity assessment, but includes some sinple elements
of direct operator/trainee performance measurement
based on basic concepts and experimental paradigms for
"transfer of training" studies.
Fidelity Assessment
Sources of Fidelity Data. For fidelity assessment,
two types of lata have to be”collected for each task
for which the simulation facility will be used for
operator testing, namely, simulator performance and
"baseline plant data" or reference data. He simulator
performance data will involve setting if) a set of
simulation facility initial conditions, developing a
scenario of events which will occur, and then
collecting data on the changed* in values of selected
operator display parameters for sane period of time.
Hose parameters which are monitored will depend upon
the particular task.
Here are three primary sources of reference ^_,ca
on which simulation facility evaluations are based.
First, there is actual plant data from the reference
plant for which the simulator is being designed. His
is clearly the best measure since it represents the
ultimate goal of simulation facility performance.
However, it is recognized that many practical factors
make it inpractical or inpossible to have sufficient
plant data, particularly when the simulator is often
available before the plant is constructed.
He second acceptable source of reference data is
fran similar plants. He definition of what
constitutes "similar" is not a sinple issue. Seme of
the constituents to be considered are:
1) He nuclear steam supply system including
reactor type, number of coolant loops, and the power
rating.
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Haas, P.M.; Carter, R.J. & Laughery, K.R. Jr. Nuclear power plant simulation facility evaluation methodology, article, January 1, 1985; Tennessee. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1066513/m1/2/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.