Nuclear security: Then and now
The evolution of computerized security systems at nuclear power plants has been driven by both the enhancements in computer technology and the changes in regulatory requirements over time. Technical advancements have simplified the essential nature of these systems in both real-time and data processing operations. Regulatory developments have caused a similar trend in simplification. This article addresses the computer and data acquisition portions of a security system and not the access control hardware, intrusion detection sensors, or surveillance equipment, other than to indicate how functional improvements in these areas have been achieved as systems have developed. The state of technology today includes the availability of fault-tolerant computers, the practice of networking multiple computers, and the standardization of real-time data network communications. These factors make two things possible in a plant security system. One is distributed processing, with rapid alarm annunciation (less than 1 second), essentially immediate response to access requests (less than 1 second), and an expeditious and comprehensive reporting capability. The other is permitting different plant operations (security, radiation protection, operator tours) to achieve economies by sharing the same network while using independent computers and avoiding operational conflicts.
- OSTI ID:
- 7004753
- Journal Information:
- Nuclear News (La Grange Park, Illinois); (United States), Journal Name: Nuclear News (La Grange Park, Illinois); (United States) Vol. 35:15; ISSN NUNWA8; ISSN 0029-5574
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
220900* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990200 -- Mathematics & Computers
COMPUTER NETWORKS
COMPUTERS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DATA ACQUISITION
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
REAL TIME SYSTEMS
SECURITY
THERMAL POWER PLANTS