Human Factors Engineering Aspects of Instrumentation and Control System Design

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• Publisher: International Atomic Energy Agency
• Year: 2021
• eBook ISBN: 9789201217202
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Mechanical Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Safety, reliability, and productivity in the nuclear industry result from a systematic consideration of human performance. A plant or other facility consists of both the engineered system and the human users of that system. It is therefore crucial that engineering activities consider the humans who will be interacting with those systems. Engineering design, specifically instrumentation and control (I&C) design, can influence human performance by driving how plant personnel carry out work and respond to events within a nuclear power plant. As a result, human–system interfaces (HSIs) for plant operators as well as the maintenance and testing of the I&C system cannot be designed by isolated disciplines. The focus of this publication is to integrate knowledge from the disciplines of human factors engineering (HFE) and I&C to emphasize an interdisciplinary approach for the design of better HSIs and consequently improved human performance in nuclear power plants. This is accomplished by practical explanations of the HFE processes and corresponding outputs that inform the I&C development. More specifically, the publication addresses issues in the design process where collaboration between HFE, I&C and other important disciplines and stakeholders is paramount and identifies key tools and tasks for exchanging inputs and outputs between different design disciplines, particularly I&C and HFE. The practical information provided in this publication is intended to support Member States' capabilities to improve their approach to I&C through the consideration of HFE.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background

Nuclear power plant personnel play a vital role in the safe, efficient and productive generation of electrical power. Operators monitor and control the plant to ensure it is functioning properly. Test and maintenance personnel help ensure the equipment is functioning properly and restore components when malfunctions occur. Personnel performance and the resulting plant performance are influenced by many aspects of plant design, including the instrumentation and control (I&C) systems and the human–system interfaces (HSIs) provided for personnel to interact with the plant. Information presented to plant personnel through I&C systems and HSIs has to be accurate, sufficient, operationally relevant, timely and dependable.

HSIs can have different characteristics depending on the technologies installed in the plant. The general operational and maintenance environment for nuclear facilities is becoming more computer based, incorporating features such as soft controls, computerized procedures, mobile interfaces and touch screen interfaces. These interfaces affect the ways that humans operate and maintain the plant.

While HSI design and digitalization can greatly improve personnel and plant performance, it is important to recognize that, if poorly planned, designed or implemented, there is the potential to negatively impact performance and safety as well as to reduce human reliability, resulting in a detrimental effect on safety and cost-effective power production. Human factors engineering (HFE) is needed to ensure that the benefits of the technologies are realized and problems with its implementation, operation and maintenance are minimized. The I&C systems can consequently affect HSI design and, likewise, HFE can drive some aspects of I&C systems.

IAEA Safety Standards Series No. SSG-39, Design of Instrumentation and Control Systems for Nuclear Power Plants [1], recognizes this interdependency and the need for integration between I&C and HFE by providing high level guidance for considering HFE inputs into the I&C life cycle and general guidance for HSI design.

IAEA Safety Standards Series No. SSG-51, Human Factors Engineering in the Design of Nuclear Power Plants [2], further expands on the application of HFE by outlining a structured, systematic approach for the development of HFE requirements and inputs into nuclear power plant design and also provides more guidance on HSI design for I&C systems and non–I&C HSIs.

Both SSG-39 [1] and SSG-51 [2] provide recommendations about what should be done in the areas of HFE and HSI design to meet the requirements established in IAEA Safety Standards Series No. SSR-2/1, (Rev. 1), Safety of Nuclear Power Plants: Design [3], SSR-2/2, (Rev. 1), Safety of Nuclear Power Plants: Commissioning and Operation [4] and GSR Part 4, (Rev. 1), Safety Assessment for Facilities and Activities [5]. This publication is intended to supplement the guidance found in the safety standards to provide best practice techniques for how to realize and implement these recommendations.

1.2. Objective

The objective of this publication is to provide the design team, which includes I&C and HFE disciplines, with practical implementation strategies and methods for I&C development that will result in HSIs that successfully support plant personnel functions and tasks.

It is not expected or necessary for the I&C engineer to become an HFE expert or for an HFE expert to become an I&C engineer. The intent of this publication is to bring awareness to both I&C and HFE disciplines about the important interactions and techniques in design that are employed to achieve successful HSI design. This publication is written primarily for the I&C team. Nevertheless, all experts involved in the field of HSI design, analysis, development, manufacture, modification, verification, validation and licensing, as well as general audiences who intend to learn about the process, will find the practices described here useful.

1.3. Scope

This publication addresses proposed I&C systems, components and replacements that support HSIs in various nuclear applications, which include new build designs and modifications to existing power plants in operation and decommissioning. This publication covers all I&C systems. Throughout this publication, the term ‘I&C system’ refers to any I&C system introduced into the design of the plant.1 This term applies to both I&C systems important to safety and I&C systems that are not. Furthermore, the term HSI is used in this publication to mean the HSI as a part of the I&C system.

The publication contains guidance that is useful for each stage of the I&C life cycle, such as new I&C system design, operation and maintenance, modernization and de...

Table of contents

• 1. INTRODUCTION
• Appendix SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDANCE ON SELECT HSI DESIGN TOPICS
• REFERENCES
• Annex I HUMAN–SYSTEM INTERFACE INDUCED COGNITIVE ERROR ANALYSIS AND COGNITIVE WORKLOAD DISTRACTION ANALYSIS IN CONTROL ROOM DESIGN
• Annex II SUPPLEMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DIGITAL HUMAN–SYSTEM INTERFACE DESIGN
• Annex III VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION METHODOLOGIES AND ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
• GLOSSARY
• ABBREVIATIONS
• CONTRIBUTORS TO DRAFTING AND REVIEW