The CANDU 6 control centre design utilizes proven systems, components and technology. The design builds on the experience AECL has obtained through decades of CANDU operation, enhanced through customer feedback and research and development (R&D).
Improved Emergency Response
Advanced Alarm Management
Enhanced Plant State Awareness
Computer-controlled Fuel Handling
Physically Comfortable Space
New Plant Display System
Single Sit-Down Console for Operator Ease
Performance Benefits
Human Factors Components
Improved Emergency Response
The CANDU 6 advanced control centre has improved emergency response capabilities delivered through computerized plant-safety-state monitoring, and quickly transmit relevant control centre displays and information to the offsite Emergency Operations Facility. The improved CANDU 6 control centre features help reduce operating and maintenance costs, minimize unplanned outages, and reduce start up time following reactor trips.
Top
Advanced Alarm Management
The CANDU control centre incorporates a new AECL-designed software program: the Computerized Annunciation Message List System (CAMLS). CAMLS has two distinct functions, to provide a central overview of plant status, and to allow easy desktop enquiry. It quickly alerts operators to changes in plant conditions so that they can efficiently respond to any abnormal event. Development of CAMLS was based on-extensive research and development, and formal validation in full-scope simulators.
Top
Enhanced Plant State Awareness
In the design of the control centre, a wide range of human performance issues have been addressed, such as monitoring of the plant-state, diagnosis to assist in decision-making, detecting and reducing errors, and simple techniques to enable effective teamwork, vigilance, and communication. New process monitoring displays have been designed, and are now included in an enhanced plant display system to better support human factor issues.
Top
Computer-controlled Fuel Handling
Fuel handling is carried out on-line with the bulk of activities handled by computers. The operator only directs refuelling, and transfers used fuel to the fuel bays.
Top
Physically Comfortable Space
Human physical issues are addressed in the control room design, including physiological effects of shift work, fatigue, readability and detectability of information, and distances traveled to perform tasks. Factors such as locations of controls and displays, lighting and colour choices, etc. are incorporated in the design. The operators benefit from the speed and precision with which the centre delivers vital information, and from the physical and psychological comfort the centre provides.
Top
New Plant Display System
The Digital Control Computers (DCCs) have been proven over more than 300 reactor years of operation. The addition of a Plant Display System (PDS) in concert with the DCCs enhances the process monitoring and diagnostic capabilities of the operator. These two separate systems replace the previous centralized digital control computers, and allow operators and technical staff to access and utilize data more effectively. The DCC has fewer, simpler components, and is able to perform self-tests, detect failures and take autonomous fail-safe actions. The PDS provides a vital link between the control centre operator and the CANDU plant, including facilities for alarm reporting, recording and analysis; generating logs and records of station operating data; and maintaining and updating the plant status database.
Top
Single Sit-Down Console for Operator Ease
The control centre incorporates a main Video-Display-Unit-based sit-down console where a single operator can monitor and control plant operations, from hot shutdown to full power. This reduces the need for moving around the room to gather information during key operating situations. The individual control panels and integrated PDS are augmented by a sophisticated annunciation-alarm processing system and large overview display screens. These enhance the operator's supervision of the plant, particularly during plant transients and outage maintenance, when demands on operators are most intense.
Top
Performance Benefits
The advanced control centre reduces operating and maintenance costs by:
- making it easier to monitor technical specifications, operating policies and procedure compliance
- increasing component and equipment protection from abnormal events
- improving human performance in vital areas
- reducing downtime from unanticipated transients
- increasing monitoring of processes and equipment
- minimizing staffing requirements by decreasing the number of routine manual tasks
- providing obsolescence protection through technology and electronic choices, along with equipment configuration
Top
Human Factors Components
Some of the human factors considerations featured in the advanced control centre:
control panels with improved visibility
larger work surfaces that allow sufficient working space during critical procedures
large overview displays that improve operator ability to monitor plant state and team performance
rotating "carousel" that keeps manuals at the fingertips of operators
touch-screen multi-function keypad that increases task efficiency and minimizes errors
natural Circadian lighting system that eases physical and psychological demands of shift work
floor layout to optimize traffic patterns
improved acoustics to reduce ambient noise
matte finishes to reduce glare
component colours that provide visual relief from computer screen "afterimage burn"
decor colours that improve aesthetics and psychological comfort.
Top