Study on operator's SA reliability in digital NPPs. Part 1: The analysis method of operator's errors of situation awareness

Situation awareness (SA) is a key element that impacts operator's decision-making and performance in nuclear power plants (NPPs). The subsequent complex cognitive activities cannot be correctly completed due to errors of situation awareness (ESA), which will lead to disastrous consequences. In order to investigate and analyze operator's ESA in the digitized main control room (DMCR) of a nuclear power plant, the model of ESA is established, the classification system of ESA is developed based on the built ESA model, and the analysis method of ESA is also constructed on the basis of the observation of simulator and operator surveys. Finally, a case study is provided to illustrate the concrete application of the method. It provides a theoretical and practical support for the operator's SAE analysis in a digitized main control room of a nuclear power plant. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.