The Solid State Protection System Initial Training Course will prepare the successful student to maintain the Solid State Protection System in accordance with plant procedures and vendor technical manual using all appropriate Human Performance tools.  This course is intended for I&C technicians and system engineers.  No previous experience with the Solid State Protection System is necessary, although some background in electronics may be helpful. 

Consistent with the Nuclearning® Educational Model, the Solid State Protection System Initial Training Course incorporates numerous student-centered learning activities to help the student learn and remember the concepts being studied. This approach puts the student at the center of the learning process making him an active participant in all learning activities. Specifically, the course incorporates instructor facilitated discussions, classroom exercises, equipment demonstrations, group work exercises, signal tracing, and hands-on troubleshooting.  Many actual plant problems are used to provide experience in troubleshooting common system failures.

It is very difficult, in operating plants, to find opportunities to train on actual plant equipment. The Solid State Protection System Initial Training Course addresses this problem by using hands-on training equipment that is very similar to that found in the actual plant. This equipment provides the student with an invaluable opportunity to work on energized equipment in a safe, learning-friendly environment. In this environment, students can see the effect of switch manipulations, practice procedures, and troubleshoot problems while utilizing all of their human performance skills. The net result is the creation of a learning environment that is as similar to the plant as possible.

The Solid State Protection System Initial Training Course is ten (10) days (80 hours) in length. Since hands-on learning is an integral part of the course, the maximum number of students should be held to ten (10) or fewer.

The following is a high level, typical daily outline of the Solid State Protection System Initial Training Course.  This daily schedule may vary due to student backgrounds and class pace.

Day 1

• Integrated Overview – The purpose of the Solid State Protection System in the nuclear power plant
• Solid State Protection System block diagram
• Physical description and equipment familiarization

Day 2

• Introduction to protection sub-system
• Reactor trips
• Protection interlocks (Permissives)
• Functional description of the protection circuit boards
• Protection sub-system troubleshooting

 Day 3

• Detailed description of protection circuit boards
• Protection sub-system troubleshooting

 Day 4

• Protection sub-system troubleshooting
• Review of protection sub-system
• Introduction to multiplexing sub-system
• Functional description of multiplexing circuit boards
• Multiplexing sub-system troubleshooting

 Day 5

• Detailed description of multiplexing circuit boards
• Multiplexing sub-system troubleshooting

 Day 6   

• Multiplexing sub-system troubleshooting 
• Review of multiplexing sub-system

  Day 7

• Introduction to testing sub-system
• Functional description of testing circuit boards
• Detailed description of testing circuit boards
• Testing circuits troubleshooting

Day 8

• Surveillance test procedures
• Review of testing sub-system
• Integrated Solid State Protection System troubleshooting

Day 9 and 10

• Written exam review 

• Written Exam*- A written examination will be used to test each student’s understanding of the system. The examination questions are based on the learning objectives used in the course.
• Performance Evaluations** - Performance evaluations will also be conducted to assess each student’s capability to perform hands-on testing and troubleshooting.

*Westinghouse will provide one remediation exam (if required) for re-test of remediated student(s) in the event of a written exam failure. It is the responsibility of the utility to perform remediation activities and administer the remediation exam.  The utility must provide passing remedial exam scores to Westinghouse for documentation of satisfactory completion.

**If the course schedule allows, Westinghouse will provide one remedial performance evaluation (if required) for re-test of student(s) who fail their first attempt at performance evaluation.  If schedule limitations do not allow time for remedial performance evaluations to be given, remedial performance evaluations must be negotiated and scheduled in an offer separate from this course.

If applicable, this Solid State Protection System course will cover any new-style circuit boards the plant has installed. These boards will be covered first at the block diagram level and then at the schematic level. Emphasis will be on new test points and card edge indication. Since these boards are often phased in over time, both the new and old style boards will be covered in the course.

Although Westinghouse does not grant a Solid State Protection System qualification to utility personnel for this training, many utilities, at their discretion, use successful completion of this course to grant a qualification. 

The Westinghouse Solid State Protection System Initial Training Course provides each student with a challenging and effective way to develop his or her understanding of this critical plant system.  By the end of the course, the successful student will have the knowledge and skills required to safely maintain and troubleshoot the Solid State Protection System.

Satisfactory completion of the course will be measured by achieving 80% or greater on a written exam and satisfactory completion of a performance evaluation.