Advanced Human-System Interfaces: Insight of a Validation Process in a Control Room of a Swiss Nuclear Power Plant

Abstract

For implementation of advanced human-system interfaces (HSIs) for the control room of the Swiss nuclear power plant Beznau, the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (HSK) requires an integrated system validation as part of the safety assessment. The validation was performed on a Westinghouse full-scope simulator with operating crews from the Beznau plant. Considering the expertise acquired by the Institute for Protection and Nuclear Safety (IPSN) in assessing the computerized control systems of the N-4 series, HSK asked IPSN for its support in assessing the HSIs. This paper deals with the methodological aspects, as well as with the results of the validation. Findings are related to issues such as situational awareness, workload, communication and management of the system failure, and raise some recommendations.

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