Expert system applications in nuclear plants

Bringing a Nuclear Power Generating Station under the control of an expert system will require an extensive program of coordinated research, development, prototype testing, and regulatory review. Conversion of nuclear energy to electrical energy carries with it a myriad of unique and complicated issues. Some will be purely technical in nature. Other less technical, and more esoteric issues will also impose constraints on the programmer and on the utility. This paper presents and discusses the key issues that relate to the viability of expert systems in the nuclear power arena