LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY FOR INNOVATION: DO THINGS BETTER TOMORROW THAN DONE TODAY

摘要

Nuclear power plants have significant challenges to reduce risks, drive cost efficiency and increase value. Competitiveness with other energy sources is a major concern to prevent premature plant closings due to economic considerations. Obsolescence of equipment and systems and heavy reliance on analog technology are making competitiveness more challenging. Plant operations are labor-intensive due to vast numbers of operational and support activities required by technologies mostly used in plants. A large percentage of experienced workers in plants are nearing retirement, which adds the burden of transferring knowledge to newer workers effectively. Innovation through use of technology is needed to make significant improvements in cost-efficient operation. The Electric Power Research Institute is developing innovative solutions to reduce risks and increase cost-efficiency. Extensive human factors engineering guidance, which is currently being updated and expanded, and decision-centered guidelines for design of human-system interfaces support reduction of the likelihood of human errors (and associated added costs) and improvement of situation awareness and decision-making. Knowledge transfer and training can be improved by using simulation with interactive capabilities so that the student is learning in an active mode, which has been shown to substantially improve knowledge retention. Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) for replacement of systems and components can result in less costly and easier to maintain approaches compared to microprocessor-based systems. Guidance on the design and implementation of FPGAs has been developed. Mobile applications provide support to reduce human error. Guidance on appropriate use of automation and effective human-automation teamwork can support cost-efficient operation.