1. An artificial intelligence software shell for plant operation simulation comprising: a blackboard module including a database having objects representing plant elements and concepts; at least one knowledge source module including an artificial intelligence operation scheme, in communication with the blackboard module, operating on specific predefined blackboard objects; a user interface module, in communication with the blackboard module, enabling a user to view blackboard status information; and a control module, in communication with the blackboard module and the at least one knowledge source module, receiving input data and controlling operation of the at least one knowledge source module; wherein the control module includes: an event detector module, in communication with the user interface module, determining when the at least one knowledge source should execute, the event detector module including a hash table including a data point structure having entries for objects, and at least one expression list, the hash table being defined by a chaining algorithm.