EXPRIME: An Expert System to Analyse Primary Heat Transport System Accidents

Abstract

In recent years a new branch of computer science has emerged, known as Artificial Intelligence. It represents a radical departure from standard procedural programming techniques currently in use. As such it has certain very interesting and powerful! properties that can be exploited to solve problems beyond the scope of standard programming methods. The aim of the work currently being done by the authors is to exploit the new techniques available in the area of Artificial Intelligence to create an expert system to help operators determine the specific nature of a given Primary Heat Transport System (PHTS) accident. The expert system will also be capable of recommending the appropriate actions that should be taken. The paper will have three parts. The first is an introduction to the field of Expert Systems. The second will be an examination of expert systems currently being developed in the nuclear industry and other potential applications. The third will be a description of the expert system currently being developed by the authors to treat PHTS accidents.