Technical Meeting on Visual Display Unit Based Control Rooms at Nuclear Power Plants

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Norma McCormick
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1 Technical Meeting on Visual Display Unit Based Control Rooms at Nuclear Power Plants Hosted by the Government of the People s Republic of China through the China Nuclear Power Engineering Company Beijing, China May 2016 Ref. No.: 621-I2-TM Information Sheet A. Background At certain intervals, the process industry at large experiences major changes in technological solutions. One important example of this is the change from analogue to digital instrumentation and control (I&C). New digital technologies offer significant opportunities to improve access to and presentation of information to the user, e.g. operators, maintenance staff and management of a nuclear power plant (NPP). Data processing techniques and the flexibility of computer based information presentation enable designers to present information in ways that are very well-suited to personnel tasks and information processing needs to achieve efficient, cost effective power production. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) publication Integration of Analog and Digital Instrumentation and Control Systems in Hybrid Control Rooms (IAEA Nuclear Energy Series No. NP-T-3.10, Vienna, 2010) defines a visual display unit as an electronic device for the display of visual information in the form of text and/or graphics. The term is typically abbreviated as VDU.

2 Page 2 Control rooms are becoming more VDU based, incorporating features such as sit-down workstations, touch-screen interfaces, large screen overview displays, computerized procedures, and soft controls. Soft controls can be used to consolidate a large amount of panel space into a single VDU. Further, new controls can be added to the control room without the need to add additional panel space or to rearrange already existing controls. However, the hierarchy and configuration of the displays should be well-structured such that the operators do not have any difficulties or cognitive burden in finding information or navigating to other displays. Visual display unit based technologies are implemented in new plant designs and are also integrated into existing control rooms, which were largely based on conventional technology, resulting in hybrid control rooms. While plant modernization can greatly improve personnel and plant performance, it is important to recognize that, if poorly planned, designed or implemented, there is the potential to negatively impact performance and reduce human reliability, resulting in a detrimental effect on safety and cost effective power production. Human factors engineering (HFE) is needed to ensure that the benefits of the new technology are realized and problems with its implementation are minimized. Recognizing the relevance of the above-mentioned issues and the rapid development of the technology, the members of the Technical Working Group on Nuclear Power Plant Instrumentation and Control (TWG-NPPIC) at their 2015 meeting recommended to the IAEA that it should organize a forum for information exchange with and among Member States in this area. B. Objectives The purpose of the meeting is to serve as an international forum for sharing best practices and strategies used in the engineering and design of VDU based control rooms at NPPs, as well as for discussing the challenges and issues that need to be resolved in this area. The meeting has the following primary objectives: To provide an international forum for presentations and discussions on the subject of the meeting; To address the various aspects involved in the application of VDUs in NPP control rooms; To strengthen Member States capabilities for improved understanding of the benefits and challenges associated with the application of VDUs; and To support the IAEA in defining future activities related to the subject of the meeting. C. Topics Presentations are invited on all aspects that are related to the application of VDUs in control rooms at NPPs. The following list provides examples of presentation topics that would be appropriate for the meeting: Overall design philosophy for VDU based control rooms;

3 Page 3 HFE issues, human system interface design; Operator workstations; Safety monitoring displays; Large display screens; Soft controls; Computerized procedures; Computerized operator support systems; Computerized alarm systems; Common cause failure vulnerability, reliability issues; Computer security considerations; Testing, verification and validation; Nuclear safety qualified VDUs; Use of commercial off-the-shelf products; Installation issues; Control room environment; Design considerations for new-builds and existing plant modernization, hybrid control rooms; Economic considerations and cost justification, obsolescence of the VDU technology; Regulatory requirements, licensing issues; Standards and guidance for VDU based control rooms; Lessons learned from experience (previous designs, operating experience, proven practices, etc.). D. Participation In view of the subject of the meeting, participation is limited to IAEA Member States that currently operate NPPs or are engaged in the construction of their first nuclear power units. Participation is solicited from representatives of NPPs and regulatory bodies, utilities, technical support organizations, developers, vendors, research organizations and international organizations engaged in the field of I&C system design for NPPs. To ensure maximum effectiveness in the exchange of information, participants should be persons actively involved in the subject matter of the meeting.

4 Page 4 E. Application Procedure Designations should be submitted using the attached Participation Form. Completed forms should be endorsed by the competent national authority (e.g. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Mission to the IAEA, or National Atomic Energy Authority) and returned through the established official channels. They must be received by the IAEA not later than 25 March Designations received after that date or applications sent directly by individuals or by private institutions cannot be considered. Designating Governments will be informed in due course of the names of the selected candidates and at that time full details will be given on the procedures to be followed with regard to administrative and logistic matters. The meeting is, in principle, open to all officially designated persons. The IAEA, however, reserves the right to limit participation due to limitations imposed by the available facilities. It is, therefore, recommended that interested persons take the necessary steps for the official designation as early as possible. F. Visas Designated participants who require a visa to enter China should submit the necessary application to the nearest diplomatic or consular representative of China as soon as possible. G. Expenditure The costs of the meeting are to be borne by the host organization; no registration fee is charged to participants. Travel and subsistence expenses of participants will have to be borne in general by their designating Governments/organizations. The IAEA has, however, limited funds at its disposal to help meet the cost of attendance of certain participants. Such assistance may be offered upon specific request to normally one participant per country provided that, in the IAEA s view, the participant on whose behalf assistance is requested will make an important contribution to the meeting. The application for financial support should be made at the time of designating the participant. The organizers of the meeting do not accept liability for the payment of any cost or compensation that may arise from damage to or loss of personal property, or from illness, injury, disability or death of a participant while he/she is travelling to and from or attending the meeting, and it is clearly understood that each Government, in designating participants, undertakes responsibility for such coverage. Governments would be well advised to take out insurance against these risks. H. Presentations Presentations should be prepared as Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt) or Portable Document Format (.pdf) files. Computer-based projection facilities will be provided. Authors are requested to provide the

5 Page 5 IAEA Scientific Secretary (see Section L below) with electronic copies of their presentation files in advance of their scheduled presentation slot so that the files can be duly uploaded. Electronic versions of the presentations are also necessary to ensure timely issuance of the proceedings to be prepared and distributed in electronic form. It is not mandatory for all participants to submit a presentation. However, the IAEA welcomes and encourages contributions in this format. Time for the presentations will be limited to 25 minutes followed by a five-minute discussion period. I. Working Language The working language of the meeting will be English; no interpretation will be provided. J. Local Arrangements The meeting will be held at the Xiyuan Hotel, No. 1 Sanlihe Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China, and will start on Tuesday, 10 May 2016, at 9.30 a.m. and end on Friday, 13 May 2016, at 2.00 p.m. The meeting agenda, together with information on local arrangements, will be sent to designated participants once the completed Participation Forms have been received. The local representative of the China Nuclear Power Engineering Company will be Ms Wang Yanjun. Contact details: Ms WANG Yanjun Chief Engineer Electrical and Instrumentation and Control Division China Nuclear Power Engineering Company No. 117 Xisanhuanbei Rd, Haidian District BEIJING CHINA Tel.: Fax: wangyj@cnpe.cc Host organization administrative assistance: Mr LI Xiyun Tel.: lixyb@cnpe.cc Ms MING Xiaoyang Tel.: mingxy@cnpe.cc

6 Page 6 Mr LIU Jinggong Tel.: liujga@cnpe.cc K. Accommodation The host organization, the China Nuclear Power Engineering Company, will assist registered participants in making hotel room reservations. Accommodation is offered at the Xiyuan Hotel in Beijing, at a special rate of RMB 570 (*USD 89.54) per single room per night, including breakfast. A Hotel Reservation Form is attached to this announcement. Information on the hotel can be found at: * The exchange rate for 16 November 2015 is applied. The exchange rate may be modified. L. IAEA Secretariat The IAEA Scientific Secretary for the meeting is Mr Janos Eiler of the Department of Nuclear Energy. His contact details are: Mr Janos EILER Nuclear Power Engineering Section Division of Nuclear Power Department of Nuclear Energy International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna International Centre PO Box VIENNA AUSTRIA Tel.: J.Eiler@iaea.org

7 Page 7 Administrative Secretary: Ms Olga GLÖCKLER Nuclear Power Engineering Section Division of Nuclear Power Department of Nuclear Energy International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna International Centre PO Box VIENNA AUSTRIA Tel.: O.Gloeckler@iaea.org Subsequent correspondence on scientific matters should be sent to the Scientific Secretary and correspondence on other matters related to the meeting to the Administrative Secretary.

TECHNICAL MEETING FLEXIBLE (NON-BASELOAD) OPERATION APPROACHES FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS. Paris, France INFORMATION SHEET

TECHNICAL MEETING FLEXIBLE (NON-BASELOAD) OPERATION APPROACHES FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS. Paris, France INFORMATION SHEET 621-I2-TM-46216 TECHNICAL MEETING ON FLEXIBLE (NON-BASELOAD) OPERATION APPROACHES FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS Paris, France 4 6 September 2013 INFORMATION SHEET 1. BACKGROUND The majority of existing nuclear