Hybrid I&C System for Nuclear Emergency Diesel Generators
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Instrumentation and Control (I&C) systems in nuclear power plants, particularly in Emergency Diesel Generators, face high failure rates and increased maintenance costs due to aging analog technologies, while digital technologies introduce new challenges such as software reliability and signal validation issues.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid I&C system is proposed, dividing functions into Safety and Non-safety categories, using electromechanical relays for Safety functions and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)/Human Machine Interface for Non-safety functions, with physical or electrical separation for data protection, combining analog and digital technologies to enhance reliability and maintenance flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If analog technologies are used in I&C systems, then reliability is maintained through mature technology, but failure rate increases and maintenance costs rise due to aging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the I&C system into multiple independent channels (at least two redundant channels) where each channel can operate autonomously. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliability through redundancy while enabling easier maintenance by isolating and replacing individual channels without shutting down the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional analog technology to a hybrid architecture combining digital signal processing with analog electromechanical relays. This parameter change in technological approach allows the system to achieve digital reliability while maintaining the proven track record of analog relay-based safety functions.
2Measurement precision
If digital technologies are used in I&C systems, then drift is eliminated and scale is maintained, but software reliability and signal validation issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces electromechanical relays as intermediary components between digital signal processing and final control actions. These relays serve as a trusted mediator that provides physical, fail-safe switching based on digital logic outputs, thereby eliminating software reliability concerns in the critical safety path while maintaining digital precision in signal processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates functions into digital signal processing tasks and analog relay-based safety functions. This segmentation allows digital technologies to handle measurement and control tasks with high precision while analog relays handle safety-critical switching, eliminating software reliability issues in the safety path.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hybrid system architecture is implemented, then maintenance flexibility and reliability are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid system is segmented into modular functional blocks (signal conditioning, digital processing, relay logic, output stages) that can be independently configured and maintained. This segmentation reduces perceived complexity by organizing the hybrid architecture into manageable, standardized modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the hybrid system with universal interfaces and standardized communication protocols that allow the same architectural framework to handle multiple function types. This universality reduces complexity by providing a single integrated platform for both analog and digital functions rather than requiring separate specialized systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The hybrid system provides robust and flexible maintenance with improved reliability and compactness, reducing maintenance costs and addressing the limitations of both analog and digital technologies by integrating electromechanical relays and PLCs/HMI, ensuring efficient operation of Emergency Diesel Generators.
Implementation Method 1
The first control part includes Safety I&C functions adapted to be controlled by wired logics based on electromechanical relays
Implementation Method 2
the second control part includes Non-safety I&C functions adapted to be controlled by Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)/ Human Machine Interface (HMI)
Implementation Method 3
I&C system further includes a protection means to protect data exchanges between the first control part incorporating Safety I&C functions and second control part incorporating Non-safety I&C functions
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
An Instrumentation and Control (I&C) system for Emergency Diesel Generator (EDG) of the nuclear power plants is provided. The instrumentation and control system is adapted to be divided into two parts: first and second control parts. The first control part include Safety I&C functions adapted to be controlled by wired logics based on electromechanical relays. Further, the second control part includes Non-safety I&C functions adapted to be controlled by Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)/ Human Machine Interface (HMI).