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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Issues of verification and validation of application-specific integrated circuits in reactor trip systems

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6587350

Concepts of using application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) in nuclear reactor safety systems are evaluated. The motivation for this evaluation stems from the difficulty of proving that software-based protection systems are adequately reliable. Important issues concerning the reliability of computers and software are identified and used to evaluate features of ASICS. These concepts indicate that ASICs have several advantages over software for simple systems. The primary advantage of ASICs over software is that verification and validation (V V) of ASICs can be done with much higher confidence than can be done with software. A method of performing this V V on ASICS is being developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The purpose of the method's being developed is to help eliminate design and fabrication errors. It will not solve problems with incorrect requirements or specifications.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
6587350
Report Number(s):
CONF-930401-4; ON: DE93008567
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English