Using knowledge based systems for rams analysis and on-line operator support of nuclear power plants

With the growing complexity of safety-critical industrial systems there is a need for computer-based tools which integrate different activities related to the layout of such systems and focussing on risk assessment in general. These activities should not only be applicable for early decision taking during the design phase but also allow an advanced maintenance over the whole life of an industrial system and even support on-line operator decision making. Thus such intended activities are embedded in an overall domain description flexible to adapt itself to different situations and extendible for any kind of additional information to attach to. On the other side, however, special applications running in the given domain should react to very specific contexts given by the user and keep their knowledge for themselves. Current research resulted in the development of a methodology (STARS) and an off-line tool (Plant Editor) with which advanced layout techniques, domain administration and extension, and an evaluation of a layout topology are combined. In particular, when using this tool one has a powerful expert system for the design and maintenance of nuclear power plants. In the second part of this paper a tool and methodology (FORMENTOR) for providing on-line decision support to operators is described. (author). 13 refs, 6 figs