Nuclear Control Device Parallel Arithmetic Units

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Solution Overview

Problem

The reliability of digital control devices in nuclear power plant safety protection systems is compromised by the effectiveness of abnormal event detection and switching mechanisms in stand-by redundant configurations.

Innovation Solution

A control device with multiple arithmetic units that perform independent and parallel arithmetic processes, including a matching process to harmonize statuses and transfer processing states, allowing for enhanced reliability by avoiding influences from other systems and detecting inconsistencies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a stand-by redundant constitution with detection and switching mechanisms is used, then high reliability is achieved, but the system complexity increases and the reliability is affected by the effectiveness of detection and switching mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into multiple independent arithmetic units (first arithmetic unit and second arithmetic unit) that operate independently and in parallel. Each unit processes data separately without requiring detection or switching mechanisms, eliminating the complexity associated with stand-by redundant systems while maintaining high reliability through independent parallel operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple arithmetic units are merged into a single control device that performs parallel processing. The matching process harmonizes the operational states of these units, allowing them to work together as an integrated system that achieves high reliability without the need for separate detection and switching mechanisms required by traditional stand-by redundant configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If arithmetic units operate independently and in parallel, then reliability is enhanced, but maintaining synchronization between units becomes challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidsynchronization stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A matching process is performed before normal operation to preliminarily harmonize the operational states of multiple arithmetic units. This preliminary synchronization ensures that when units operate independently and in parallel, they maintain consistent timing and processing states, preventing drift and ensuring stable synchronized operation without compromising their independence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The matching process establishes a feedback mechanism that monitors and adjusts the operational states of arithmetic units. By continuously comparing and harmonizing processing statuses, the system maintains synchronization stability while allowing units to operate independently, ensuring that timing and operational consistency are preserved throughout parallel processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2626788B1Control device and nuclear power plant control system
Publication Date: 2018.05.16 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD
  • EP2626788B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2626788B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2626788B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A nuclear power plant control system (1) according to the present invention is a nuclear power plant control system which controls a safety protection system of a nuclear power plant including: a detection unit (10a-10d) for detecting a specific event occurring in the nuclear power plant; an on-site equipment (50) handling the event; and a majority decision judging device (20a and 20b) and an on-site equipment control device (40a and 40b) which constitute a plurality of control devices respectively operating independently. Each control devices includes a plurality of arithmetic units which perform arithmetic processes independently and in parallel based on a detection result of the detection unit (10a-10b), and output a signal for controlling the on-site equipment (50) according to the results of operations of the arithmetic processes. The plurality of arithmetic units perform a matching process for harmonizing process statuses of the arithmetic processes of respective arithmetic units with each other when starting up the control devices, and after completing the matching process, respectively perform the arithmetic processes independently and in parallel.