Reactor protection system with automatic self-testing and diagnostic
Abstract
A reactor protection system having four divisions, with quad redundant sensors for each scram parameter providing input to four independent microprocessor-based electronic chassis. Each electronic chassis acquires the scram parameter data from its own sensor, digitizes the information, and then transmits the sensor reading to the other three electronic chassis via optical fibers. To increase system availability and reduce false scrams, the reactor protection system employs two levels of voting on a need for reactor scram. The electronic chassis perform software divisional data processing, vote 2/3 with spare based upon information from all four sensors, and send the divisional scram signals to the hardware logic panel, which performs a 2/4 division vote on whether or not to initiate a reactor scram. Each chassis makes a divisional scram decision based on data from all sensors. Automatic detection and discrimination against failed sensors allows the reactor protection system to automatically enter a known state when sensor failures occur. Cross communication of sensor readings allows comparison of four theoretically "identical" values. This permits identification of sensor errors such as drift or malfunction. A diagnostic request for service is issued for errant sensor data. Automated self test and diagnostic monitoring, sensor input through outputmore »
- Inventors:
-
- Cupertino, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- General Electric Co., Boston, MA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 870746
- Patent Number(s):
- 5586156
- Assignee:
- General Electric Company (San Jose, CA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21D - NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-89SF17445
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- reactor; protection; automatic; self-testing; diagnostic; divisions; quad; redundant; sensors; scram; parameter; providing; input; independent; microprocessor-based; electronic; chassis; acquires; data; sensor; digitizes; information; transmits; reading; via; optical; fibers; increase; availability; reduce; false; scrams; employs; levels; voting; perform; software; divisional; processing; vote; spare; based; send; signals; hardware; logic; panel; performs; division; initiate; makes; decision; detection; discrimination; failed; allows; automatically; enter; failures; occur; communication; readings; comparison; theoretically; identical; values; permits; identification; errors; drift; malfunction; request; service; issued; errant; automated; monitoring; output; relay; virtually; eliminate; manual; surveillance; testing; provides; ability; cross-check; sense; reactor scram; reactor protection; parameter data; scram signal; data processing; optical fibers; optical fiber; electronic chassis; reduce false; sensor input; microprocessor-based electronic; scram parameter; providing input; quad redundant; redundant sensors; chassis acquires; parameter providing; virtually eliminate; independent microprocessor-based; via optic; automatic detection; /376/700/702/
Citation Formats
Gaubatz, Donald C. Reactor protection system with automatic self-testing and diagnostic. United States: N. p., 1996.
Web.
Gaubatz, Donald C. Reactor protection system with automatic self-testing and diagnostic. United States.
Gaubatz, Donald C. Mon .
"Reactor protection system with automatic self-testing and diagnostic". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/870746.
@article{osti_870746,
title = {Reactor protection system with automatic self-testing and diagnostic},
author = {Gaubatz, Donald C},
abstractNote = {A reactor protection system having four divisions, with quad redundant sensors for each scram parameter providing input to four independent microprocessor-based electronic chassis. Each electronic chassis acquires the scram parameter data from its own sensor, digitizes the information, and then transmits the sensor reading to the other three electronic chassis via optical fibers. To increase system availability and reduce false scrams, the reactor protection system employs two levels of voting on a need for reactor scram. The electronic chassis perform software divisional data processing, vote 2/3 with spare based upon information from all four sensors, and send the divisional scram signals to the hardware logic panel, which performs a 2/4 division vote on whether or not to initiate a reactor scram. Each chassis makes a divisional scram decision based on data from all sensors. Automatic detection and discrimination against failed sensors allows the reactor protection system to automatically enter a known state when sensor failures occur. Cross communication of sensor readings allows comparison of four theoretically "identical" values. This permits identification of sensor errors such as drift or malfunction. A diagnostic request for service is issued for errant sensor data. Automated self test and diagnostic monitoring, sensor input through output relay logic, virtually eliminate the need for manual surveillance testing. This provides an ability for each division to cross-check all divisions and to sense failures of the hardware logic.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996}
}