Reactor Protection Controller Board With Dynamic Port Addressing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reactor protection systems in nuclear power plants face challenges with increased complexity, maintenance difficulties, and human error due to the need for multiple controller board types and fixed network port addresses, which lead to communication failures and inefficient management.
Innovation Solution
A controller board with integrated platform and algorithmic logic, storing unique addresses and device information, allows flexible network port address and function assignment, ensuring distinct addresses and functions for each port, reducing board types and components, and simplifying maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If different algorithmic logics are set for each controller board to avoid communication address conflicts, then communication reliability is improved, but the number of controller board types increases and maintenance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic address assignment where controller boards automatically obtain unique communication addresses through a distributed allocation mechanism. When a controller board is inserted, it requests an address from available pool, and the system dynamically assigns a unique address without requiring pre-configuration or different board types. This dynamic approach maintains communication reliability while enabling universal controller board usage across all channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller board is designed with self-configuration capability, automatically obtaining its unique address and configuration parameters from the system without requiring manual setup or engineer station intervention. The board reads its slot position information automatically and configures its communication address based on this information, eliminating the need for different board types while ensuring unique identification for reliable communication.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an engineer station is used to modify controller board functions, then system adaptability is improved, but safety decreases and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal controller board that can be used across all protection system channels without requiring different board types for different functions. The board maintains adaptability through software-based configuration where the same hardware platform can serve multiple channels with different addresses, eliminating the need for engineer station modifications while preserving system functionality and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the configuration function from the engineer station and integrates it directly into the controller board itself. The board now contains built-in capabilities for self-configuration and automatic address assignment, removing the external engineer station from the configuration process. This extraction eliminates safety risks associated with engineer station modifications while maintaining system adaptability through onboard configuration capabilities.
3Reliability
If multiple types of controller boards are used to ensure unique addresses and functions, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the approach from hardware differentiation to parameter-based identification. Instead of using different controller board types with hard-coded addresses, the system uses a single controller board type that dynamically assigns unique addresses as parameters based on the board's insertion slot position. This parameter-based approach ensures unique identification for reliable communication while maintaining hardware uniformity and reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the address space into multiple unique addresses that can be dynamically assigned to different controller boards based on their slot positions. Rather than requiring different physical board types, the system divides the communication address namespace into segments that are allocated to individual boards, ensuring unique identification while using a single standardized board design throughout the system.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a controller board and a control method for a reactor protection system of a nuclear power plant. The controller board includes: a memory, configured for storing application information, wherein the application information includes a unique address of a current controller board, information on controllable devices of the current controller board, and information on functions set by the current controller board for network ports of the controllable devices, and a processor, configured for, after the current controller board is inserted into a controllable device, setting an address for the network port of the controllable device according to the unique address of the current controller board, and setting a function for the network port of the controllable device according to the information on functions set for the network ports of the controllable devices. According to embodiments of the invention, types of controller boards are decreased, the number of controller board are also reduced, and the management and maintenance of the reactor protection system of the nuclear power plant is simplified.