A computational situation assessment model for nuclear power plant operations

This paper presents a computational situation assessment (SA) model and a model-based SA metric for nuclear power plant operations. The model and metric development starts with a definition of the plant operator's SA centered decision making behavior. A computational SA model and a model-based SA metric are then developed to quantify and measure operator SA. Using the SA model as a core, we further develop an integrated operator/plant model that provides for explicit representation of the operator's fundamental functions of information processing, situation assessment, and decision making in a closed-loop plant/operator simulation environment. We evaluate the model and metric in a model-based simulation of a selected emergency scenario, and a model-based analysis of a range of contemplated nuclear power plant automation/aiding options.