An Intelligent Human-Machine Interface for Next Generation Nuclear Power Plants

The intelligent human-machine interface (HMI) has been developed to enhance the safety and availability of a nuclear power plant by improving operational reliability The key elements of the HMI are the large display panels which present synopsis of the plant status and the compact, digital work stations for the primary operator control and monitoring functions. The work station consists of four consoles such as a dynamic alarm console (DAC), a system information console (SIC), a computerized operating-procedure console (COC), and a safety related information console (SRIC). The DAC provides clean alarm pictures, in which information overlapping is excluded and alarm impacts are discriminated, for quick situation awareness. The SIC covers a normal operation by offering all necessary plant information and control functions. In addition, it is closely linked with the DAC and the COC to automatically display related system information under the request of these consoles. The COC aids the operator with proper emergency operation guidelines so as to shutdown the plant safely, and it also reduces his physical/mental burden by automating the operating procedures. The SRIC continuously displays safety related information to allow the operator to assess the plant status focusing on plant safety. The proposed HMI has been validated and demonstrated with on-line data obtained from the full-scope simulator for Yonggwang Units 1,2.