Seismic Switch Internal Fault Detection MCU
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Solution Overview
Problem
Present seismic switches are inadequate in detecting dangerous faults, leading to potential failures during seismic events, which can result in safety risks such as fires and offsite releases of radioactive materials.
Innovation Solution
A seismic switch (SS) equipped with a microcontroller unit (MCU) that includes software for internal fault detection, using a deterministic Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) and hardware for fault detection, ensuring safety functions are prioritized and redundant paths for fail-safe operations, along with tri-axial MEMS accelerometers for seismic activity measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If present seismic switches are used without internal fault detection, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of detecting dangerous faults deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The MCU includes built-in hardware that automatically detects internal faults within the MCU itself, allowing the system to self-monitor its own health without external intervention. This self-service approach enables the system to detect dangerous faults while maintaining simplicity, as the fault detection capability is integrated into the existing MCU rather than requiring separate monitoring systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous monitoring of MCU internal faults with automatic feedback mechanisms that track the operational status of the processor. This feedback enables real-time detection of degradation or failure conditions, allowing the seismic switch to maintain high reliability by identifying dangerous faults before they compromise system operation.
2Reliability
If routine operational checks are performed frequently, then the reliability of fault detection is improved, but the operating cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The MCU's built-in hardware continuously monitors internal fault conditions in the background during normal operation, performing preliminary detection without requiring dedicated operational checks. This preliminary monitoring ensures the system is ready to detect faults during seismic events without the need for frequent interruptive testing, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing energy consumption and operating costs.
3Measurement precision
If the seismic switch monitors all internal faults continuously, then the detection precision is improved, but the productivity is reduced due to excessive operational checks
Solution Approach 1:
The MCU automatically monitors its own internal fault conditions through integrated hardware that operates continuously in the background without requiring external control or interrupting the main processing tasks. This self-service monitoring achieves precise fault detection while maintaining high productivity, as the monitoring function is seamlessly integrated into the MCU's normal operation without requiring separate operational checks or reducing system throughput.
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 SS effectively reduces undetectable dangerous faults to nearly zero, ensuring reliability and safety by promptly detecting internal faults and seismic activity, thereby reducing the risk of fires and offsite releases, and maintaining availability during seismic events without excessive operational checks.
Implementation Method 1
Three tri-axial MEMS accelerometers may be used to detect seismic activity by measuring g-forces applied to the SS
Data Source
AI summary
A seismic switch (SS) that is able to detect and signal when internal faults have occurred within the SS is described. The SS provides safety class functionality to the detection of seismic activity. For example, the SS may detect earthquakes above a specified level, resulting in the disconnection of electrical power to a radioactive waste storage facility, which could result in the ignition of waste materials should the storage facility and/or storage container fail during a seismic event. By reducing the risk of fire under these circumstances, the possibility of offsite releases is significantly reduced.