Power plant interactive display

• US 4,853,175 A
• Filed: 03/10/1988
• Issued: 08/01/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: B&W Nuclear Service Company
• Original Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Company (Babcock International Group PLC)
• Inventors: Book, Theodore L. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Application Number:
  US07/166,959
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 376/215, 376/216, 376/217, 364/138, 364/492, 364/188, 364/189, 364/431.01
• US Class Current: 376/216
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 17/00 Monitoring; Testing measuring in general G01; Maintaining
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/915 Power plant

Abstract

An interactive display apparatus and method for a plant operating at a plurality of process parametes from which a current plant status can be calculated, and from which symptoms can be diagnosed which indicate the existence of transient conditions of plant status for which mitigating action must be taken within a time interval, utilize a central computer for storing all appropriate mitigating actions which should be taken upon the occurrence of a symptom. The computer is also programmed with algorithms for selecting and prioritizing mitigating actions that are appropriate. A display is connected to the computer for displaying the list of mitigating actions which are appropriate for a symptom diagnosed by the central computer. Sets of symptom indicators and extreme action indicators are also driven by the computer. Each symptom is represented by a separate card which can be independently illuminated to indicate the existence of that symptom. If the symptom is not corrected by appropriate mitigating action within an implied time interval, an extreme action indicator card is lit from along a plurality of extreme action indicators. This indicates to the plant personnel that now extreme action is needed. The central computer also calculates which extreme actions are needed from a list of stored extreme actions. These too are displayed to the plant operator. To help the plant operator on determining the effects of mitigating actions and the ongoing status of the plant, a separate display connected to the central computer, displays current plant status.

Claims

1. An interactive display apparatus for a plant operating at a plurality of process parameters from which a current plant status can be calculated, and from which symptoms of a transient condition in the plant status requiring at least one mitigating action an implied time interval can be diagnosed, extreme action being necessary beyond the time interval if the mitigating action is unsuccessful in mitigating the transient condition, the apparatus comprising:

computer means for receiving signals indicative of the process parameters and for diagnosing a plurality of symptoms of transient conditions in the plant status, said computer means operating to measure the time interval for each mitigating action;

a plurality of symptom indicators connected to said computer means, each symptom indicator being activatable by said computer means upon the diagnosis by said computer means of one of the symptoms; and

a plurality of extreme action indicators connected to said computer means, each extreme action indicator being activatable by said computer means upon expiration of the time interval for taking a mitigating action.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, including an alarm connected to said computer means for activation upon the diagnosis of a symptom and upon the expiration of an implied time interval.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said computer means comprises a central computer for storing all mitigating and extreme actions for the plurality of symptoms and for the time intervals, said central computer being programmed for selecting at least one appropriate mitigating action for each symptom and at least one extreme action for each expiration of an implied time interval within which each mitigating action is required, and a current action display connected to said central computer for displaying all appropriate mitigating and extreme actions currently required.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, including a current plant status display connected to said central computer for displaying the current plant status, whereby transient conditions in the plant status are continually provided to an operator.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3, including printer means connected to said central computer for printing hard copies of the mitigating actions displayed on said current action display.

6. An apparatus according to claim 3, including a trace display connected to said central computer for displaying plant status over time for providing a trace of changes in the plant status.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, including plotting means connected to said central computer for plotting plant status over time.

8. An apparatus according to claim 3, including a secured input/output port connected to said central computer for reprogramming selection of the mitigating and extreme actions and for changing the mitigating and extreme actions, said secured port providing access only to authorized programming therethrough.

9. An apparatus according to claim 3, including an alarm connected to said computing means for activation upon activation of any of said symptoms and extreme action indicators.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said computer means includes at least one microprocessor for receiving the signals which are indicative of the process parameters, independently of said central computer, said microprocessor being programmed for activating said symptom indicators and for activating said extreme action indicators upon diagnosis of said symptoms and expiration of said implied time interval.

11. An interactive display method for a plant operating at a plurality of process parameters from which a current plant status can be calculated and from which symptoms of a transient condition requiring at least one mitigating action within a certain time interval can be diagnosed, extreme action being necessary beyond the time interval if the mitigating action is unsuccessful in mitigating the transient condition, the method comprising:

diagnosing the existence of a symptom for a transient condition in the plant status among a plurality of symptoms which indicate transient conditions in the plant status;

activating a separate symptom indicator for the symptom diagnosed from among a plurality of symptom indicators, each for indicating the presence of one of the plurality of symptoms;

measuring a time interval from the time of diagnosis to the time when mitigating action must mitigate the transient condition; and

at the expiration of said time interval, activating one extreme action indicator corresponding to the extreme action needed from among a plurality of extreme action indicators, each for indicating the presence of one of the extreme actions.

12. A method according to claim 11, including activating an alarm simultaneously with activation of any of said symptom indicators and any of said extreme action indicators.

13. A method according to claim 11, including storing a plurality of mitigating and extreme actions which are appropriate for all of said plurality of symptoms in a central computer, and, upon diagnosis of a symptom, displaying at least one mitigating action appropriate to said diagnosed symptom on a current action display, whereby a plant operator viewing said current action display is provided with a list of appropriate mitigating action to take to mitigate the transient condition.

14. A method according to claim 13, including displaying the current plant status on a current plant status display, whereby a plant operator can continually view the current status of the plant to determine the existence or mitigation of a transient condition.

15. A method according to claim 13, including printing out a hard copy of the current action display.

16. A method according to claim 13, including displaying the plant status over time on a trace display for providing an operator with an indication of the effects of mitigating actions on the transient conditions in the plant status.

17. A method according to claim 16, including plotting the plant status over time for providing a hard copy of traces of the plant status and effects of mitigating actions on the transient conditions.

18. A method according to claim 13, including activating an alarm upon activation of any of the symptom and extreme action indicators.

19. A method according to claim 13, including securing access to programming in the central computer for permitting changing of the list of mitigating and extreme actions and changing the programming for selecting mitigating and extreme actions for each symptom, only through a secured channel.

20. A method according to claim 19, including providing at least one redundant microprocessor, in addition to the central computer, for activating the symptom and extreme action indicators independently of the central computer.