Enforcing safety policies in advanced digital reactor control systems
Software-based digital systems in nuclear applications offer many potential benefits in the fields of safety, functionality, flexibility, and control, but they also present substantial challenges in demonstrating software reliability. In at least one nuclear system, serious concerns over the protection-system software have been raised. Achieving the required high level of software dependability through techniques such as testing, inspections, or mathematical verification is difficult because of the quantity and complexity of the software. The goal of the research described here is to facilitate dependability analysis by using a novel kernel software architecture. The kernel encapsulates into a relatively small piece of software the implementation of a set of critical safety policies so that policy enforcement is isolated from the rest of the system. Provided the kernel operates correctly, safety policy compliance is assured irrespective of the actions of the majority of the software.
- OSTI ID:
- 89186
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-941102-; ISSN 0003-018X; TRN: 95:004215-0260
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 71; Conference: Winter meeting of the American Nuclear Society (ANS), Washington, DC (United States), 13-18 Nov 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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