Control room modernization in operating nuclear power plants

Summary form only given. The majority of instrumentation and control (I&C) equipment in nuclear plants contain analog and relay components that are or soon will be obsolete. Plants are procuring digital-based designs as a result of obsolescence or the need to improve performance. As an integral part of this modernization, control rooms and other human-system interfaces (HSIs) will be modernized. To support safe and effective operation, it is critical to design control room and interface changes to take advantage of human cognitive processing abilities. In most cases, modernized control rooms will be the result of incremental modernization of equipment and HSIs. NRC has published human factors guidance documents in some areas that are intended for use by NRC in reviewing proposed upgrades regarding safety issues. A major aspect of the endpoint vision of the control room is the determination of the capability/functionality of the systems and interfaces. A major project to provide the guidance and processes requested by the owner/operators is now being carried out under EPRI and DOE NEPO funding.