Introduction to digital instrumentation and control techniques used in nuclear engineering
For the past 8 yr, the nuclear engineering department at Pennsylvania State University has been teaching a digital interfacing class at the undergraduate (senior) level. With the ever-increasing use of computers in the nuclear engineering area (such as in the use of automated data acquisition systems) and the complexity of control instrumentation, more than a cursory introduction into electronics and computer controls is needed. Because of the ever-increasing popularity, and hence importance, of IBM-PC compatible microcomputers in the engineering fields, the program has been adapted to the Intel 8086 microprocessor. Courses such as this one are helpful in ensuring the students have an adequate design and practice base as required by accrediting groups. The course, is composed of three parts: (1) machine code/assembly language, (2) interfacing, and (3) final project. Experience demonstrates that a course of this inherent complexity can successfully be taught within a nuclear engineering curriculum without extensive prerequisites. The important ingredient is to treat nuclear engineering students for exactly what they are, engineers. By having them use their creativity and adaptability, they can successfully integrate the digital interfacing techniques now routinely used in the nuclear industry.
- OSTI ID:
- 5432583
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-881011-; CODEN: TANSA; TRN: 89-029296
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA), Vol. 57; Conference: Joint meeting of the European Nuclear Society and the American Nuclear Society, Washington, DC (USA), 30 Oct - 4 Nov 1988; ISSN 0003-018X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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