Nuclear power plant communication systems

Abstract

To provide a communication system for an atomic power station that can use existing equipment and perform large-capacity data communications without affecting the atomic power station's equipment.SOLUTION: A communication system of an atomic power station according to the present invention includes a base unit 20 for power line communication installed in the atomic power station, and a power line communication slave unit 30, and the base unit 20 and the slave unit 30 are installed in an area where there are devices that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication, and are connected to a power line 10 inside the atomic power station and connected to each other. Wireless communication devices are installed in areas where there are no devices that may be affected by noise from wireless communication.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to communication systems used in nuclear power plants. [Background technology]

[0002] Nuclear power plants are expected to transmit and store large amounts of data, such as the status and measurement values ​​of installed equipment. However, current nuclear power plants mainly use paging (public address system), telephones, and PHS for communication, and are not equipped with a communications environment capable of transmitting large amounts of data.

[0003] An example of a conventional communication system applicable to nuclear power plants is described in Patent Document 1. In the communication system described in Patent Document 1, a communication terminal transmits electromagnetic waves when it can receive electromagnetic waves from a base station, and does not transmit electromagnetic waves when it cannot receive electromagnetic waves from the base station, and the base station is installed at a location separated by a distance L from equipment that is susceptible to the effects of electromagnetic waves, and the distance L is greater than the sum of the electromagnetic wave reach distance L1 of the base station and the electromagnetic wave reach distance L2 of the communication terminal. With the above configuration, the communication system of Patent Document 1 ensures the convenience of wireless communication (e.g., high-speed wireless data communication) without affecting equipment that is susceptible to the effects of electromagnetic waves, even in locations where such equipment is present.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 describes that in a substation equipment protection and control system, part or all of the communication means is configured as wireless communication means, and that the power line that supplies power from the control power source is also used as an information transmission path. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-078040 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-295298 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As mentioned above, nuclear power plants are required to transmit large amounts of data, but current nuclear power plants are not equipped with a communication environment capable of transmitting large amounts of data. Generally, large amounts of data can be transmitted using wired communication using communication lines (e.g., LAN cables) or wireless communication (e.g., wireless LAN).

[0007] Installing new wired communication equipment at a nuclear power plant poses the challenge of using a large number of communication lines and communication devices, requiring a great deal of work to install them, resulting in significant costs and construction time. Furthermore, there may be areas within a nuclear power plant where communication lines and communication devices cannot be installed. Meanwhile, installing wireless communication equipment at a nuclear power plant poses the challenge of not being able to use wireless communication easily, since there is equipment within the plant that is highly susceptible to noise from wireless communication.

[0008] For this reason, nuclear power plants are seeking a communication system that can utilize existing facilities as much as possible and that can communicate large volumes of data without affecting the equipment at the nuclear power plants with noise.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a communication system that can utilize existing facilities in a nuclear power plant and that can communicate large volumes of data without affecting the equipment in the nuclear power plant with noise. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The communication system for a nuclear power plant according to the present invention is installed in the nuclear power plant and comprises a power line communication master unit and a power line communication slave unit. The master unit and the slave unit are installed in an area where there is equipment that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication, and are connected to each other by connecting to the power line inside the nuclear power plant. The wireless communication equipment is installed in an area where there is no such equipment.

[0011] Furthermore, the communication system for a nuclear power plant according to the present invention can also have the following configuration: The system is installed in the nuclear power plant and comprises a power line communication master unit and a power line communication slave unit. At least one of the master unit and the slave unit is installed in an area predetermined as an area adjacent to an area where there is equipment that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication, and is connected to each other by connecting to a power line inside the nuclear power plant. The wireless communication equipment is installed in an area where there is no such equipment. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a communication system that can utilize existing facilities in a nuclear power plant and can communicate large volumes of data without affecting the equipment in the nuclear power plant with noise. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overview of power line communication (PLC). [Figure 2] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of power lines in a nuclear power plant. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a PLC used by a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a device connected to a slave unit in a PLC used in a communication system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for determining an area using PLC and an area using wireless communication in the communication system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication configuration used by a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] A communication system for a nuclear power plant according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings referred to in this specification, the same or corresponding components are designated by the same reference numerals, and repeated description of these components may be omitted. [Example]

[0015] A communication system for a nuclear power plant according to this embodiment is installed inside the nuclear power plant. The communication system according to this embodiment uses power-line communication (PLC), which uses power lines as communication lines, in areas of the nuclear power plant where there is equipment that may be affected by noise from wireless communication and where existing power lines can be used, and uses wireless communication in areas where there is no equipment that may be affected by noise from wireless communication. The communication system according to this embodiment uses power line communication and wireless communication, but in areas where power line communication and wireless communication cannot be used, other communication means such as wired communication can also be used.

[0016] First, we will briefly explain power line communication (hereinafter referred to as "PLC"). PLC is a technology that uses power lines as communication cables by transmitting high-frequency communication signals over 100V or 200V power lines. PLC makes it possible to use existing power lines installed at nuclear power plants to carry out large-volume data communication without affecting the equipment at the nuclear power plant due to noise.

[0017] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overview of power line communication (PLC). PLC is composed of a 100V or 200V power line 10, a PLC master unit 20, and a PLC slave unit 30. The master unit 20 and the slave unit 30 are used by being plugged into an outlet 40 on the power line 10, and transmit signals to each other using the power line 10. The master unit 20 can be connected to a server 51 or a network 52, for example, via a concentrator 50. The slave unit 30 can be connected to a terminal device 60, for example.

[0018] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a power line 10 in a nuclear power plant. In a nuclear power plant, the power line 10 is, for example, a 100V or 200V power line, and connects a power panel 11 (e.g., a distribution panel) that supplies 100V or 200V power to a power panel 12 (e.g., a metal clad panel used for high-voltage circuits or a power center used for low-voltage circuits) that supplies power.

[0019] In this embodiment, the PLC is configured by utilizing such power lines 10 already installed in the nuclear power plant as communication lines.

[0020] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a PLC used by the communication system according to this embodiment. The communication system according to this embodiment includes, as the PLC configuration, a 100V or 200V power line 10, a power supply panel 11 as a power source, a power supply panel 12 as a power destination, a PLC parent device 20, and a PLC child device 30.

[0021] The power line 10 is an internal power line of the nuclear power plant, and is a cable for supplying power from a power source. The power line 10 is connected to a power supply panel 11 of the power supply source and a power supply panel 12 of the power supply destination. In this embodiment, the power line 10 can use the power line already installed in the nuclear power plant.

[0022] The power supply panel 11 of the power supply source is, for example, a 100V or 200V distribution panel, and supplies power to the power supply panel 12 of the power supply destination.

[0023] The power supply panel 12 to which power is supplied is, for example, a metal clad, a power center, or a control panel that controls devices and equipment.

[0024] The PLC master unit 20 is connected to a power line 10. In this embodiment, the PLC master unit 20 is installed in a power supply panel 11 (for example, a distribution panel) of the power supply source and is connected to the power line 10. As shown in FIG. 1 , the master unit 20 is connected to a line concentrator 50, and can be connected to facilities provided in the nuclear power plant, such as a server 51 or a network 52, via the line concentrator 50. When the master unit 20 is connected to the server 51 or network 52 of the nuclear power plant, data from the nuclear power plant can be transmitted by PLC. An existing PLC master unit can be used as the master unit 20.

[0025] The PLC slave unit 30 is connected to a power line 10, and is connected to a master unit 20 via the power line 10. In this embodiment, the PLC slave unit 30 is installed in a power supply panel 12 (for example, a metal clad or power center) at the power supply destination, and is connected to the power line 10. The slave unit 30 can receive nuclear power plant data transmitted from the master unit 20 via the power line 10, and transmit the received data to a terminal device 60 (FIG. 1). An existing PLC slave unit (terminal) can be used as the slave unit 30.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of devices connected to the slave unit 30 in the PLC used by the communication system according to this embodiment.

[0027] The slave device 30 can be connected to the concentrator 50 by, for example, a communication line 61 (e.g., a LAN cable), and can be connected to the terminal device 60 by wireless communication or wired communication via the concentrator 50. When the slave device 30 connects to the terminal device 60 by wireless communication, the concentrator 50 connects to a wireless communication access point 63 by the communication line 61, and the access point 63 connects to the terminal device 60 by wireless communication. When the slave device 30 connects to the terminal device 60 by wired communication, the concentrator 50 connects to the terminal device 60 by the communication line 61.

[0028] In the PLC used in the communication system according to this embodiment, a temporary power supply panel can be used for at least one of the power supply source power supply panel 11 and the power supply destination power supply panel 12. The temporary power supply panel is a temporary power supply panel installed as a work power source for use at a construction site, for example.

[0029] For example, at a construction site, after concrete is poured for a building, radio waves are sometimes blocked by the concrete, making wireless communications such as mobile phone communications impossible, making data communication impossible.Even at such a construction site, data communication can be made possible by installing both or one of a PLC master unit 20 and a PLC slave unit 30 in a temporary power supply panel and configuring a PLC using a power line 10 connected to the temporary power supply panel.

[0030] An example of a procedure for determining an area using PLC and an area using wireless communication in the communication system according to this embodiment will be described below.

[0031] 5 is an example of a flowchart showing a procedure for determining an area using power line communication (PLC) and an area using wireless communication in a communication system according to this embodiment. The procedure shown in the flowchart in FIG. 5 is performed, for example, by an operator who installs the communication system.

[0032] In S510, an area in the nuclear power plant where the communication system is to be installed is selected. Hereinafter, the selected area will be referred to as the target area.

[0033] The following procedure determines whether to use PLC or wireless communication for the target area.

[0034] In S520, it is determined whether or not there is any equipment (nuclear power plant equipment) within the target area that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication. For example, an operator can determine whether or not a piece of equipment is likely to be affected by noise due to wireless communication based on the magnitude of the current flowing through the circuit connected to the equipment. For example, if the current flowing through the circuit connected to the equipment is smaller than a predetermined threshold, it can be determined that the equipment is likely to be affected by noise due to wireless communication. If there is any equipment within the target area that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication, the process proceeds to S530; if there is no such equipment, the process proceeds to S580.

[0035] In S530, a determination is made as to whether or not a device that may be affected by noise from wireless communication is subject to radio wave interference in the frequency band used for wireless communication. For example, an operator can determine whether or not the device is subject to radio wave interference from wireless communication based on the results of a test conducted in advance. If the device is subject to radio wave interference from wireless communication, the process proceeds to S540. If the device is not subject to radio wave interference from wireless communication, the process proceeds to S580.

[0036] In S540, it is determined whether or not there is any equipment to which the power line 10 is connected within the target area. The equipment to which the power line 10 is connected is, for example, the power supply panel 11 of the power supply source or the power supply panel 12 of the power supply destination. The equipment to which the power line 10 is connected may also be the outlet 40 of the power line 10. If there is any equipment to which the power line 10 is connected within the target area, the process proceeds to S570, and if there is no such equipment, the process proceeds to S550.

[0037] In S550, it is determined whether or not there is any equipment to which the power line 10 is connected (for example, the power supply panel 11 of the power source, the power supply panel 12 of the power destination, or the outlet 40) in an area adjacent to the target area. The nearby area is a predetermined area near the target area, such as a room or corridor adjacent to the target area. If there is any equipment to which the power line 10 is connected in the nearby area, the process proceeds to S570; if there is no such equipment, the process proceeds to S560.

[0038] In S560, it is determined whether or not it is possible to install the power line 10 in the target area or a nearby area. If it is possible to install the power line 10 in the target area or a nearby area, the process proceeds to S570, and if it is not possible to install the power line 10, the process proceeds to S590.

[0039] In S570, a PLC is used in the target area. The target area is an area where equipment (nuclear power plant equipment) that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication exists, and is an area where existing power lines 10 can be used, or a nearby area is an area where existing power lines 10 can be used, so a PLC is used. At least one of a PLC master unit 20 and a slave unit 30 is installed in the target area and the nearby area. The procedure in S570 for each of S540, S550, and S560 will be described below.

[0040] In S540, if there is equipment within the target area to which the power line 10 is connected (for example, a power supply panel 11 from which power is supplied, a power supply panel 12 from which power is supplied, or an outlet 40), a PLC parent unit 20 or child unit 30 is installed in this equipment.

[0041] If in S550 there is equipment connected to the power line 10 in an area adjacent to the target area, a PLC master unit 20 or slave unit 30 is installed in this equipment. A concentrator 50 installed in the target area or a nearby area is connected to the PLC slave unit 30. A terminal device 60 installed in the target area is connected to the concentrator 50. To explain the nearby area again based on this procedure, the nearby area is an area located such that when communication equipment (at least one of the PLC slave unit 30 and the concentrator 50) is installed in the nearby area, the communication equipment (at least one of the concentrator 50 and the terminal device 60) installed in the target area can be connected to the communication equipment in the nearby area via a communication line 61.

[0042] If it is possible to install a power line 10 in the target area in S560, the power line 10 is installed in the target area. One end of this power line 10 is located within the target area, and the other end is located outside the target area. An outlet 40 is provided at one end of the power line 10, and a PLC parent unit 20 or child unit 30 is installed in the outlet 40. The other end of the power line 10 is connected to any existing power line 10, or to any power supply source power panel 11, power supply destination power panel 12, or outlet 40 connected to the existing power line 10.

[0043] If it is possible to install a power line 10 in the nearby area in S560, the power line 10 is installed in the nearby area. One end of this power line 10 is located in the nearby area, and the other end is located outside the nearby area. An outlet 40 is provided at one end of the power line 10, and a PLC parent unit 20 or child unit 30 is installed in the outlet 40. A concentrator 50 installed in the target area or a nearby area is connected to the PLC child unit 30. A terminal device 60 installed in the target area is connected to the concentrator 50. The other end of the power line 10 is connected to any existing power line 10, or to any power supply source power panel 11, power supply destination power panel 12, or outlet 40 connected to the existing power line 10.

[0044] In S580, wireless communication is used in the target area. The target area is an area where there is no equipment (nuclear power plant equipment) that may be affected by noise from wireless communication, so wireless communication is used. That is, wireless communication equipment, for example, an access point 63, is installed in the target area. The access point 63 is connected to the terminal device 60 by wireless communication. For the wireless communication, it is preferable to use, for example, high-speed, large-capacity wireless communication so that large-capacity data communication can be performed.

[0045] In S590, the communication method to be used in the target area is reviewed. Since PLC and wireless communication cannot be used in the target area, the use of other communication methods, such as wired communication, is considered.

[0046] 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of wireless communication used by the communication system according to this embodiment. Conventional technology such as wireless LAN can be used for wireless communication.

[0047] The communication system according to this embodiment includes a concentrator 50 and two access points 63 as wireless communication devices. The concentrator 50 can be connected to one access point 63 and to facilities provided in the nuclear power plant, such as a server 51 and a network 52. The other access point 63 can be connected to a terminal device 60 by wireless communication or wired communication. The access point 63 connected to the concentrator 50 can transmit nuclear power plant data transmitted from the concentrator 50 to the other access point 63. The access point 63 that receives the nuclear power plant data can transmit the received data to the terminal device 60.

[0048] In the PLC used in the communication system according to this embodiment, the PLC master unit 20 and slave unit 30 can be housed in a PLC housing panel, which is, for example, an iron container, and connected to the power line 10. The following describes the case where the master unit 20 and slave unit 30 are housed in a PLC housing panel.

[0049] When parent device 20 is installed in power panel 11, which is the power source, or when child device 30 is installed in power panel 12, which is the power destination, it is preferable that power panels 11, 12 be able to accommodate a PLC storage panel. If power panels 11, 12 are not able to accommodate a PLC storage panel, it is determined whether a PLC storage panel can be installed in the location where parent device 20 and child device 30 are to be installed. If a PLC storage panel cannot be installed in the location where parent device 20 and child device 30 are to be installed, consider not using PLC and using other communication means, such as wireless communication or wired communication.

[0050] As described above, in the communication system according to this embodiment, PLC is used in areas where the nuclear power plant equipment may be affected by noise from wireless communication but where existing power lines can be used, and wireless communication is used in areas where the nuclear power plant equipment may not be affected by noise from wireless communication. With this configuration, the communication system according to this embodiment can perform large-capacity data communication by utilizing existing facilities at the nuclear power plant without affecting the nuclear power plant equipment with noise. In this embodiment, existing facilities such as power line 10, power supply panel 11 at the power supply source, and power supply panel 12 at the power supply destination are utilized, so that when installing the communication system, an increase in the number of communication lines and equipment used and an increase in the amount of work required to install these can be suppressed.

[0051] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to embodiments including all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment. It is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. It is also possible to delete part of the configuration of each embodiment, or to add or replace other configurations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 10...power line, 11...power supply panel from power source, 12...power supply panel to power destination, 20...PLC parent unit, 30...PLC child unit, 40...outlet, 50...concentrator, 51...server, 52...network, 60...terminal equipment, 61...communication line, 63...access point.

Claims

1. Installed at nuclear power plants, A parent unit of power line communication; The power line communication slave unit; Equipped with The parent unit and the child unit are installed in an area where there is a device that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication, and are connected to each other by being connected to a power line inside the nuclear power plant, In an area where the device is not present, the wireless communication device is installed, The parent unit and the child unit are connected to the power line already installed in the nuclear power plant. A communication system for a nuclear power plant, comprising:

2. The power line is connected to a power supply panel of a power source, The parent unit is installed in a power supply panel of the power supply source.

2. The nuclear power plant communication system according to claim 1.

3. The power line is connected to a power supply panel of a power supply destination, The child device is installed in a power supply panel of the power supply destination.

2. The nuclear power plant communication system according to claim 1.

4. The parent machine is connected to a server or network provided at the nuclear power plant.

2. The nuclear power plant communication system according to claim 1.

5. The power supply panel of the power supply source is a temporary power supply panel installed as a work power source.

3. The nuclear power plant communication system according to claim 2.

6. The power supply panel of the power supply destination is a temporary power supply panel installed as a work power source, 4. The nuclear power plant communication system according to claim 3.

7. Installed at nuclear power plants, A parent unit of power line communication; The power line communication slave unit; Equipped with At least one of the parent device and the child device is installed in a predetermined area adjacent to an area where there is an apparatus that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication, and is connected to an internal power line of the nuclear power plant and connected to each other, In an area where the device is not present, the wireless communication device is installed, The parent unit and the child unit are connected to the power line already installed in the nuclear power plant. A communication system for a nuclear power plant, comprising:

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