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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Display specification for fossil power plant digital control system operator interfaces. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:10116155
; ; ;  [1]
  1. General Physics Corp., Columbia, MD (United States)
The introduction of digital control systems (DCS) in fossil power plant control rooms has significantly changed the human-machine interface. Now operators receive information from CRT displays and control the plant using computer input devices. Human factors principles can be applied to the human-machine interface to improve information flow and make it easier to control the plant. To that end, EPRI recently issued a general document: Human Factors Guidelines for Fossil Power Plants (TR-101814), which includes one chapter on the human-machine interface. The display specification contained herein provides more detailed guidance on the subjects of display hardware and screen design. This specification describes requirements for digital control system vendors to incorporate into their designs and bids. As an example, the specification recommends graphics capability for organizing data in windows. DCS vendors typically provide hardware and software but do not build the plant-specific display screens. Those screens should be designed by a team with representatives from operations, engineering, human factors, and software areas. The specification contains a large set of screen examples based on human factors principles. These screens provide a starting point for a design team to develop plant-specific displays.
Research Organization:
Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); General Physics Corp., Columbia, MD (United States); Science Applications International Corp., Los Altos, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
OSTI ID:
10116155
Report Number(s):
EPRI-TR--102845; ON: UN94005343
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English