Implementation of an on-line expert system in a nuclear power plant

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has established guidelines for nuclear plant owners which require that as part of the response to an emergency, the utility classify the level of severity of an emergency event into what is called an Emergency Action Level (EAL). The determination of the appropriate EAL to declare can be difficult since complicated conditions and rules apply. In addition, in order to determine an EAL, the operations staff must direct their attention away from their primary responsibility; the safe operation of the nuclear plant. This paper describes an expert system which will aid nuclear plant operations personnel to quickly and correctly determine and EAL during an emergency event