A flow-directed minimal path sets method for success path planning and performance analysis

Emergency operation plans are indispensable elements for effective process safety management especially when unanticipated events occur under extreme situations. In the paper, a synthesis framework is proposed for the integration success path planning and performance analysis. Within the synthesis framework, success path planning is implemented through flow-directed signal tracing, renaming and reconstruction from a complete collection of Minimal Path Sets (MPSs) that are obtained using graph traversal search on GO-FLOW model diagram. The performance of success paths is then evaluated and prioritized according to the task complexity and probability calculation of MPSs for optimum action plans identification. Finally, an Auxiliary Feed Water System of Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR-AFWS) is taken as an example system to demonstrate the flow-directed MPSs search method for success path planning and performance analysis. It is concluded that the synthesis framework is capable of providing procedural guidance for emergency response and safety management with optimal success path planning under extreme situations.