MAN-MACHINE INTERACTION IN CANADIAN NUCLEAR-POWER-PLANTS

The design of man-machine interaction in the CANDU plants has evolved considerably over several generations of plants, from the first Douglas Point plant through to the next generation of plants represented by new designs like CANDU 3. In the early plants, the control room configuration was based on designers' projections of control interface requirements. With succeeding generations of designs, there has been an evolution towards a more systematic consideration of human strengths and weaknesses, increasing attention to formal requirements definition, and incorporation of a larger base of operational experience. This paper describes the design of the man-machine interaction for third generation CANDU-3 Control Rooms for improved operator reliability and reduced costs.