Deployment of a Full-Scope Commercial Nuclear Power Plant Control Room Simulator at the Idaho National Laboratory

摘要

A simulator is a physical device that replicates the operations of an actual device used in the workplace. Typically, simulators serve to train operators on the proper use of workplace devices, but simulators are also frequently employed in research to evaluate human performance. Simulator technology for domains such as aviation emerged in the 1930s with the invention of the Link Trainer, a mockup plane that allowed pilots in training to learn to manipulate flight controls in a rudimentary manner. It was not until considerably later--with advances in computing technology--that mathematical systems models and computer generated imagery could be harnessed to create realistic, virtual flight simulations. A similar course was followed for nuclear power plants (NPPS) initial, nonoperational hardware mockups of control room panels used by the U.S. nuclear Navy and plant vendors gave way to entire control room simulators with functional control panels that connected with underlying thermal-hydraulic code. Nuclear power plant simulators evolved from being static training representations to interactive, operational systems that could be used to train and test reactor operators knowledge of plant states and scenarios. An NPP simulator today consists of a computing system to mimic the function of the plant and a physical representation of the control room to allow to monitor simulated plant states and control plant functions.