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Title: How systems engineering and human factors can assist SMR vendors with the licensing process - 345

Conference ·
OSTI ID:23035438
; ;  [1]
  1. Candesco - Division 26, Wellington Street East, Toronto, ON, M5E 1S2 (Canada)

There is growing interest in the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) as a cost-effective renewable source of energy. Most of the current conceptual designs propose advanced and automated control and monitoring technologies which would require complex human system interfaces. The proposals also include a reduction in the number of staff, and partial or full remote control of the facilities. The human factors challenges of such a design philosophy range from identification of information requirements of users to assessing workload to deciding on best information visualization techniques to ensure situation awareness is maintained in a remote control facility. Addressing these challenges will require a systems engineering approach where user requirements are identified through a systematic approach for various contexts, including normal, abnormal, and accident conditions. A systems engineering process will integrate human factors as well as other specialty disciplines such as reliability and design optimization in a coherent fashion that would lead to realization of a successful system that addresses user requirements. The licensing model in Canada is based upon a graded approach and is largely technology neutral. A key factor in ensuring effective licensing effort is identification of regulatory requirements. This paper discusses how adopting a systems engineering approach and early consideration of human factors principles and requirements will not only ensure an efficient design process, but will also help with developing a design that meets the regulatory requirements. (authors)

Research Organization:
American Nuclear Society - ANS, 555 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, IL 60526 (United States)
OSTI ID:
23035438
Resource Relation:
Conference: NPIC and HIMIT 2017: 10. International Conference on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, San Francisco, CA (United States), 11-15 Jun 2017; Other Information: Country of input: France; 5 refs.; available from American Nuclear Society - ANS, 555 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, IL 60526 (US)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English