Expert system applications in nuclear plants: discussion of the key issues

The authors discuss the key issues that relate to the viability of expert systems in the nuclear power arena. Bringing a nuclear power generating station under the control of an expert system will require an extensive program of coordinated research development, prototype testing, and regulatory review. Conversion of nuclear energy to electrical energy carries with it a myriad of unique and complicated issues. Some will be purely technical in nature. Other less technical and more esoteric issues will also impose constraints on the programmer and on the utility. Among the issues that would complicate the programmer´s efforts are the sheer volume of information to be processed, the time constraints for operator response, the ties between the operation of any one system and the operation of all others, and the numerous factors that may modify the relative merits of alternative courses of action