ML24170A984
| ML24170A984 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/18/2024 |
| From: | Niav Hughes NRC/RES/DRA/HFRB |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML24170A984 (1) | |
Text
Dr. Niav Hughes Green and Dr. Stephanie Morrow Human Factors Psychologists Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission European Safety and Reliability Conference (ESREL 2024)
Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland June 23-28, 2024 Exploring Human Factors Considerations of Remote and Automated Operations For The Nuclear Domain 1
NOTE The views expressed in this presentation are those of the presenters and do not necessarily represent an official position of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This presentation material is declared as a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States.
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Roadmap
Background
NRCs Human Factors Research Supporting Advanced Reactor Concepts Implications for Remote and Highly Automated Operations Diversity and Range Anticipated for Advanced Reactors Next Steps 3
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Background===
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff is responsible for determining the acceptability of new reactor designs to ensure safe plant operations
- Advanced reactor technologies may include remotely operated facilities and increased reliance on automated operations for safety-significant systems, structures, and components (SSCs)
- Remote and automated operational concepts may have implications for human factors engineering areas, including human-system interactions, staffing, training, qualifications, and operator actions
- Research is needed to understand the regulatory and safety implications of these novel concepts in the nuclear industry
- Gather lessons from other high-risk domains with experience with remote and highly automated operations 4
Advanced reactor concepts include:
- All designs that are not light-water reactors (LWRs),
regardless of size
- All small modular reactor designs
- Microreactors
- Fusion reactor systems (per Staff Requirements Memorandum (SRM) to SECY-20-0032).
Research Initiated with Idaho National Laboratory on Human Factors Considerations for Remote and Automated Operations 5
- 1. Understand the range of remote and autonomous concepts anticipated
- 2. Identify the human factors considerations and implications across the range of remote and autonomous concepts
- 3. Gather research findings and lessons from experience in other high-risk domains that may serve as surrogates for similar concepts in nuclear (e.g., oil and gas, maritime, aviation, and aerospace)
- 4. Develop a taxonomy to elucidate the human factors considerations that are important to ensuring safe operation of advanced reactors
37 External Visitors 20 NRC Staff 230 Virtual Participants Workshop on Human Factors Considerations for Remote Operation of Nuclear Facilities January 31 - February 1, 2024 Workshop Summary: ML24061A181 GOALS 1)
Understand concepts of operations the nuclear industry is considering that may include elements of remote operation, and 2)
Gain insights regarding how well-suited NRCs current guidance is for the human factors review of these concepts.
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Diversity and Range in Design and Operational Characteristics
- Simpler designs, passive safety features, and inherent safety characteristics
- Much higher levels of automation including potentially fully autonomous mode
- No traditional control room
- Reactor monitoring and control may be accomplished either locally or remotely
- Roles and responsibilities of personnel and automation expected to vary greatly
- Introduce human factors complexities (e.g., role of the operator, situation awareness, workload, response time, communication, teamwork, and vigilance) 7
Challenge: The role of the human may depend on the designs concept of operation 8
Simple design with full autonomy.
Remote monitoring and control with dispatchable personnel nearby.
Remote monitoring with available personnel on site.
Lessons from Other Uses of Remote Operation for Power Generation
- Key enablers for remote operations include high levels of automation and alarm filtering.
- Command and control was enabled both at the remote control facility and locally at the site.
- Crew composition consist of highly experienced staff who are cross-trained in operations and technical craft.
- A fifth staff member in operations is available on shift to support the four others with command and control of the 11 sites.
- The remote control facility is in close proximity to a larger cross-functional team for timely troubleshooting and support.
- A fleet-wide simulator is an enabling tool for training of staff.
9 Citation: Research Information Letter RIL 2024-06
Lessons for Highly Automated Operations
- Involvement of operations personnel was an important driver for identifying specific control sequences to automate (e.g., user-centered design).
- High Performance HSI Design provides a means for effective monitoring of automation, bringing the most pertinent information to the operators attention.
- High levels of automation can enable combined job duties for staff such as operations and maintenance. Such considerations may mitigate impacts of possible vigilance decrement when monitoring automation for extended periods 10 Citation: Research Information Letter RIL 2024-06
The greatest human factors challenges may lie at the intersection of these areas 11 Remote Operations Autonomous Operations AI in Operations Human-Robot Teaming Credit: Dr. David Desaulniers presentation, Greatest Human Factors Challenge and Opportunity: A Risk-Informed Perspective, to the 2024 Regulatory Information Conference on March 13, 2024: Human in the Loop: The Changing Role of Humans in New and Advanced Reactor Designs
Research Next Steps
- Document learnings from the workshop
- Remote Workshop Report RIL 2024-06. Will be found at LINK once released
- Develop topic characterization for remote operation of advanced reactors for the range of CONOPS identified
- Gather insights and lessons from surrogate domains (e.g., aerospace, maritime, off-shore oil and gas, renewables)
- Align on definitions with respect to the scope of regulatory research Identify strategy and areas for guidance development 12
Outreach and Engagement
- Human Factors of Remote Operations Workshop (Jan 31 - Feb 1, 2024)
- Summary is publicly available in ADAMS at ML24061A181. Remote Workshop Report RIL 2024-06.
Will be found at LINK once released
- Human in the Loop: The Changing Role of the Humans in New and Advanced Reactor Designs (NRC Regulatory Information Conference; March 13, 2024)
- Panel description and slides available here; recording available here
- Coordination with international regulators on AI-enabled autonomy for nuclear
- Remote and Automated Operations (Intl. Workshop on Autonomous Systems Safety (iWASS) and European Safety and Reliability (ESREL); June 22-28, 2024)
- Human Performance Implications of Remote Operations in High-Risk Industries (Human Factors and Ergonomic Society Meeting; Sept 13-18, 2024) 13
THANK YOU Point of
Contact:
Niav.Hughes@nrc.gov 14