Machine assisted execution of process operating procedures

Apparatus for assisting an operator in the execution of procedure steps in a complex process facility comprising:

• a plurality of sensors for generating sensor signals representative of the real-time value of a plurality of facility parameters;
• storage means for storing electrical signals representative of the logic for the procedure steps of a plurality of step-by-step procedures;
• a digital computer programmed to sequentially select stored signals representative of the logic of a selected one of said procedure steps of one of said plurality of step-by-step procedures as a current step, to repetitively process selected sensor signals to determine the status of a process condition selected by the current step, and to provide recommended action when the process condition is not verified by the sensor signals;
• a display device controlled by the digital computer for generating a visual display indicating the current step, the real-time status of the selected process condition, any recommended action, and instructions for an operator to generate an action completed response signal, and alternatively, an override response signal;
• and
• input means by which the operator generates an action completed response signal, and alternatively, an override response signal, said digital computer being further programmed to select the stored signals representative of another step in the selected step-by-step procedure as the current step in response to an action completed response signal only when such a response signal is generated after a repetition of said sensor signal processing indicates that the selected process condition is verified, and to select another step as the current step in response to an override signal without verification by the sensor signals of the selected process condition.

A machine assisted method of executing procedure steps for the operation of a nuclear power plant comprising the steps of:

• storing electric signals representative of logic for step-by-step procedures for the plant, at least some steps of which require verification of a selected plant condition;
• generating parameter signals representative of the real-time value of predetermined plant parameters;
• operating a digital computer to sequentially select a step of one of said step-by-step procedures as a current step and to repetitively execute the logic for the current step including processing selected parameter signals to determine the real-time status of the plant condition to be verified by a current step which requires verification, and generating text strings representative of said real-time status of the plant condition to be verified, of the value of the selected parameter signals, of recommended operator action where the plant condition is not verified, and of instructions for the operator to generate a recommended action complete operator response signal, and alternatively, an action overridden operator response signal;
• generating a visual display of said text strings on a display device for observation by said operator;
• storing an operator response signal in a buffer;
• and
• further operating said digital computer in repetitively executing the logic for said current step to update the real-time status of the selected plant condition and said text strings in response to changes in the selected plant condition, including changes as a result of operator response to the recommended action, to periodically check the buffer for a stored operator response signal, and to select a next step of the one step-by-step procedure as the current step in response to an action completed operator response signal only for such a response signal generated after a repetition of said logic indicates that the plant condition has become verified, and selecting a next step as the current step in response to an action overridden operator response signal without verification of said selected plant condition.