Pre-validation of nuclear power plant control room design

Abstract

Evaluation of the design of complex automation and control room systems is an essential phase in the design process in the nuclear field. For example, in order to meet the nuclear regulatory requirements, the new control room systems have to be evaluated in full-scope simulators to achieve a validation of the systems. We have developed a specific approach for the pre-validation of human-system interfaces and applied the method to evaluate the control room designs of a Finnish nuclear power plant. Some lessons learned from previous tests are provided. The paper will also discuss some open questions concerning the use of pre-validation test data. One of the most interesting questions is how pre-validation test data can be used in the final validation of a system, and how a set of pre-validation tests can support the validation by providing cumulative evidence of the functionality and usability of the system. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.