Evaluation of NASA's Launch Processing System for nuclear power applications: Final report

The Space Shuttle Launch Processing System (LPS) automation technology is developed by NASA for the support of the shuttle launch control process. The LPS is based on a software package composed of a high-level real-time programming language and the associated control logic and the user interface facilities. The primary mission of the LPS is to prevent hazardous manual intervention and to allow automatic reaction to out of tolerance events. It also supports interactive and automated control techniques and provides graphical displays for monitoring and control tasks. The LPS programming language includes rule-based capabilities to monitor data, to initiate control actions, and to override operator actions which are inconsistent with the rule set. The NASA's Space Shuttle Launch Processing System has been demonstrated to Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for an application to nuclear power plant. Using the TMI accident as a reference, the demonstration system shows how the LPS technology can be employed to handle some of the operational deficiencies encountered during the accident. It illustrates the sequence of events including the manual actions, and shows places where the LPS would have intervened to prevent the accident. The purpose of this report is to evaluate this demonstration system both in termsmore » of its applicability to the nuclear industry, and the technology used. Specific recommendations for consideration by EPRI are made. 8 refs., 9 figs.« less