Initial Operating Experiences in a Digital Control Room

In spring 2023, a new nuclear power plant unit became operational in Finland and was connected to the national grid for electricity production. There are many features that make the new unit unique and of special interest. For example, the process control is carried out through a fully digital human-system interface. In the nuclear industry, high safety and quality demands are set for the control room design and human-system interface systems to be used in the operation of the power plant. For example, before a control room is taken into use, a comprehensive quality and safety assurance through a formal verification and validation process of human-system interfaces are to be carried out. In the case of a new power plant unit, in-service human performance monitoring of the control room design and human-system interface systems is a topical human factors engineering activity after commissioning. Through it, for example training needs and important issues to be addressed in the product development process can be identified. Information for in-service human performance monitoring can be collected, e.g., through walkthroughs, interviews, and surveys. We conducted a walkthrough exercise of the new control room design and human-system interface systems and a questionnaire study, to collect initial operating experiences in the new digital control room and to support setting up in-service monitoring practices regarding the operation of the new unit. Based on the results of the walkthrough, a systems usability questionnaire was developed. The questionnaire was distributed to the control room operators of the new nuclear power plant. Here, we report some of the results of the HSI walkthrough and the survey. According to the simulator trainers, some new HFE issues, that were not addressed in validation tests have emerged after commissioning. Topics that were addressed include, among others, preferences for different formats (paper vs. computer-based) of procedures, the use of two languages (English in HSIs and procedures, and Finnish in collegial/operative conversation), and the needs for additional training.