Enhancing Nuclear Power Plant Operations: An Ontology for Conditional Tasks
Publication: Computing in Civil Engineering 2023
ABSTRACT
Nuclear power plants (NPPs) depend on precise procedures for safety and efficiency. These procedures contain work instructions detailing both sequential and conditional tasks. However, executing conditional tasks—tasks performed under specific conditions—often poses difficulties for operators. The hurdles lie in recalling crucial information, spotting key cues, and reacting appropriately to significant plant events linked to these tasks. Current computer-based procedures (CBPs) also fall short in autonomously generating operator reminders when conditional tasks are activated due to these tasks’ lack of computer interpretability. This paper presents an ontology: a computer-interpretable representation of conditional tasks. The ontology supports reason about potential events, suitable responses, task constraints, and potential hazards related to the procedure. A case study demonstrates the ontology’s effectiveness. Future research will focus on refining ontology and investigating automatic critical information extraction methods.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this chapter.
REFERENCES
Al Rashdan, A., Oxstrand, J., and Agarwal, V. (2018). Automated Work Packages: Capabilities of the Future. Nuclear Technology, 202(2–3), 201–209. https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2017.1406774.
Aziz, A., Ahmed, S., and Khan, F. I. (2019). An ontology-based methodology for hazard identification and causation analysis. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 123, 87–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2018.12.008.
Balakirsky, S., et al. (2017). Towards a Robot Task Ontology Standard. Volume 3: Manufacturing Equipment and Systems,. https://doi.org/10.1115/MSEC2017-2783.
Di Gironimo, G., Mozzillo, R., and Tarallo, A. (2013). From virtual reality to web-based multimedia maintenance manuals. International Journal on Interactive Design and Manufacturing (IJIDeM), 7(3), 183–190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12008-013-0185-0.
Dien, Y. (1998). Safety and application of procedures, or `how do `they’ have to use operating procedures in nuclear power plants? Safety Science, 29(3), 179–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-7535(98)00021-6.
Fortineau, V., Fiorentini, X., Paviot, T., Louis-Sidney, L., and Lamouri, S. (2014). Expressing formal rules within ontology-based models using SWRL: An application to the nuclear industry. International Journal of Product Lifecycle Management, 7(1), 75–93. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJPLM.2014.065458.
Hai, R., Theißen, M., and Marquardt, W. (2011). An ontology based approach for operational process modeling. Advanced Engineering Informatics, 25(4), 748–759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aei.2011.05.002.
IAEA. (2020). Operating Experience with Nuclear Power Stations in Member States. In Operating Experience with Nuclear Power Stations in Member States (p. 1) [Text]. International Atomic Energy Agency. https://www.iaea.org/publications/14782/operating-experience-with-nuclear-power-stations-in-member-states.
Kirwan, B., and Ainsworth, L. K. (1992). A Guide To Task Analysis: The Task Analysis Working Group. CRC Press.
Lew, R., Boring, R. L., and Ulrich, T. A. (2018). Transitioning Nuclear Power Plant Main Control Room From Paper Based Procedures to Computer Based Procedures. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 62(1), 1605–1609. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541931218621363.
Liu, C., Jiang, P., and Jiang, W. (2020). Web-based digital twin modeling and remote control of cyber-physical production systems. Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, 64, 101956. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcim.2020.101956.
NRC. (2023). Procedure writing guide. NRC Web. https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/search.html.
Oxstrand, J., Blanc, K., and Bly, A. (2014). Computer-Based Procedures for Field Activities: Results from Three Evaluations at Nuclear Power Plants.
Praino, G., and Sharit, J. (2016). Written work procedures: Identifying and understanding their risks and a proposed framework for modeling procedure risk. Safety Science, 82, 382–392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2015.10.002.
Preischl, W., and Hellmich, M. (2016). Human error probabilities from operational experience of German nuclear power plants, Part II. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 148, 44–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ress.2015.11.011.
Xing, J. (2022). Auto Procedure Parsing: A Natural Language Processing Approach. Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States). https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1881835.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Computing in Civil Engineering 2023
Pages: 597 - 604
History
Published online: Jan 25, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Architectural engineering
- Automation and robotics
- Building information modeling
- Building management
- Case studies
- Computing in civil engineering
- Disaster risk management
- Disasters and hazards
- Energy engineering
- Energy infrastructure
- Energy sources (by type)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Information management
- Infrastructure
- Lifeline systems
- Methodology (by type)
- Non-renewable energy
- Nuclear power
- Power plants
- Research methods (by type)
- Systems engineering
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.