Dissertation Defense: Science-Based Human Reliability Analysis: Using Digital Nuclear Power Plant Simulator Data in Human Reliability Research

Committee

• Dr. Carol Smidts, Chair
• Dr. Tunc Aldemir
• Dr. Catherine Calder
• Dr. Ron Boring

Abstract

Nuclear power plant (NPP) simulators are proliferating in academic research institutions and national laboratories in response to the availability of affordable, digital simulator platforms. Accompanying the new research facilities is a renewed interest in using data collected in NPP simulators for Human Reliability Analysis (HRA) research.  

An experiment conducted in The Ohio State University NPP Simulator Facility develops data collection methods and analytical tools to improve use of simulator data in HRA. We review three aspects of simulator-based research using the data collected in the OSU NPP Simulator Facility: a qualitative comparison of student operator performance to computer simulations of expected operator performance generated by the Information Decision Action Crew (IDAC) HRA method; development of a quantitative model of the simulator bias introduced by the simulator environment; and development of a quantitative model of subjective PSFs based on objective data (plant parameters, alarms, etc.) and PSF values reported by student operators.

The models used in this research and the methods developed to analyze them demonstrate how to consider simulator bias in experiment design and how to use simulator data to enhance the technical basis of a complex HRA method.