EP0180085A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Distributed microprocessor based sensor signal processing system for a complex process
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1985-10-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-10-14
Abstract
Abstract Signals from redundant sensors located throughout a pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plant are processed in four independent channel sets each of which includes independent microcomputers which calibrate, convert to engineering units and calculate partial trip signals and engineered safeguard actuation signals from the sensor signals for use in the conventional voting logic of a plant protection system. The primary and secondary partial trip and engineered safeguard actuation functions associated with various postulated abnormal events are allocated to different independent microcomputers in the channel set for reliability. A test unit common to the channel set, automatically and rapidly bypasses the tests each protection function independently while the other protection functions in the channel set remain on-line; also, each microcomputer is continually tested through a dummy test function which is performed along with the assigned protection functions. Signals representative of the analog value of the sensor signals are stored by the microcomputers and are transmitted by a serial data link through a common electrical isolation unit to a common analog output device for use by the plant control and monitoring systems under the control of a communication processor common to a group of microcomputers in the channel set.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert William Crew
- 👤 James Albert Neuner
- 👤 Gilbert William Remley
- 👤 Robert Edward Hager
- 👤 George Milton Chambers
- 👤 Eric Antoon Delava
- 👤 Susan Ann Wilbur
- 👤 Thomas Joseph Kenny
- 👤 James Franklin Sutherland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:15
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G05; G05B; G05B9/00; G05B9/02; G05B9/03; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
Apparatus attached to a protection system, for processing a plurality of sensor-signals produced by sensors which monitor and measure selected parameters in a complex process, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of independent digital signal processors smaller in number than said plurality of sensor signals for generating protection actuation signals in response to predetermined combinations of values of said sensor-signals representing predetermined conditions within said complex process, characterized in that: at least some of said signal processors generate at least two such actuation signals and wherein for at least a given one of said predetermined conditions, a first of said independent signal processors generates a primary actuation signal for said given condition from a first combination of values of a first set of sensor signals, and a second of said independent signal processors generates a secondary actuation signal for said given condition from a second combination of values of a second set of sensor signals, whereby although at least two actuation signals are generated by at least some of said independent signal processors, the primary and secondary actuation signals indicative of a given predetermined process condition are generated in separate independent signal processors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus attached to a protection system, for processing a plurality of sensor-signals produced by sensors which monitor and measure selected parameters in a complex process, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of independent digital signal processors smaller in number than said plurality of sensor signals for generating protection actuation signals in response to predetermined combinations of values of said sensor-signals representing predetermined conditions within said complex process, characterized in that: at least some of said signal processors generate at least two such actuation signals and wherein for at least a given one of said predetermined conditions, a first of said independent signal processors generates a primary actuation signal for said given condition from a first combination of values of a first set of sensor signals, and a second of said independent signal processors generates a secondary actuation signal for said given condition from a second combination of values of a second set of sensor signals, whereby although at least two actuation signals are generated by at least some of said independent signal processors, the primary and secondary actuation signals indicative of a given predetermined process condition are generated in separate independent signal processors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said independent signal processors is digital and has a separate digital output line for transmitting each actuation signal generated thereby to the process protection system, and wherein said apparatus includes electrical isolation means in each said digital output line to electrically isolate each digital signal processor from the process protection system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
115 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of said independent digital signal processors includes means for generating from the sensor signals applied thereto processed parameter signals representative of the analog value of selected parameters associated with said complex process, and wherein said apparatus includes, a common parameter signal output device, a common electrical isolation means, data link means connecting each of said independent digital signal processors with said common parameter output device through said common electrical isolation means, and a communications processor for controlling said data link means to sequentially transmit the parameter signals from each of said independent digital, signal processors to said common parameter signal output device through said common electrical isolation means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including a second parameter signal output device and a second common electrical isolation means and wherein said data link means transmits said processed parameter signals to said second parameter signal output device through said second common electrical isolation means under the control of said communications processor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
112 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including a second data link means, a second common electrical isolation means and a second communications processor and wherein said plurality of independent digital signal processors are divided into two groups with those in the first group connected to said common parameter signal output device by the first mentioned data link means through the first mentioned common electrical isolation means controlled by the first mentioned communications processor and those independent, digital signal processors in the second group are connected to said common parameter signal output device by said second data link means through said second common electrical isolation means under the control of said second communications processor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 2 for use in processing redundant sets of signals produced by multiple sensors monitoring the selected parameters in the complex process and wherein said plurality of independent, digital, signal processors constitutes a channel set which processes one set of said redundant sensor signals and wherein said apparatus includes redundant channel sets each comprising a plurality of independent, digital, signal processors which process a set of said redundant sensor signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
159 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of said independent digital signal processors includes input/output means for receiving said sensor signals required for said signal processor to generate said protection system actuation signals and for generating an active signal on each output line which goes inactive in response to the associated actuation signal, and wherein each channel set includes a common tester/bypass means which includes means for individually and sequentially as to each actuation signal replacing with selected actuating generating test signals at the input/output means only the required sensor signals for that actuation signal and for disconnecting only the actuation signal generated by the test signal from the associated output line and applying it instead to said test/bypass means, and means for sensing the recording the actuation signal generated by said test signal, whereby each actuation signal is individually bypassed by the generation of a continuous active signal on the associated output line when it is under test.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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