Real-time reactor coolant system pressure/temperature limit system

• US 4,997,617 A
• Filed: 11/28/1988
• Issued: 03/05/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The B&W Nuclear Service Company (Babcock International Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Company (Babcock International Group PLC)
• Inventors: Newton, Dennis G., Schemmel, Richard R., Van Scooter, Walter E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Application Number:
  US07/276,823
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 376/216, 376/245, 376/247, 376/246, 364/557, 364/558, 364/492, 364/579, 364/148, 364/152, 364/164
• US Class Current: 376/216
• CPC Class Codes: G21D 3/04 Safety arrangements emergency protection of reactor G21C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/00 Energy generation of nuclear origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors

Abstract

A nuclear reactor coolant system pressure/temperature system based on real-time data is disclosed. An input subsystem receives and performs initial processing of real-time plant analog and digital signals, and transmits same to a processing subsystem which develops real-time, nuclear reactor coolant system pressure/temperature limits. The real-time, pressure/temperature information is transmitted to an output subsystem for display purposes, for recording operating results, and for control and/or protection system setpoint generation.

Claims

1. A system, used in controlling the operation of a nuclear reactor coolant system, which automatically calculates and displays allowable reactor coolant system pressure/temperature limits within the nuclear reactor coolant system based upon real-time inputs, comprising:

means for producing signals representative of real-time operating parameters of the nuclear reactor cooling system;

means for developing pressure and temperature limits relating said real-time operating parameters of the nuclear reactor coolant system, for normal and emergency operation thereof;

means for processing said signals representative of real-time operating parameters of the nuclear reactor coolant system to perform calculations of a best estimate of input signals, check manual inputs against permissible values, and test data acquisition hardware for validity and over/under range; and

means for comparing said representative signals with said limits for said real-time operating parameters to produce a signal for a real-time display of said pressure and temperature limits and of said real-time operating parameters for use by an operator in controlling the operation of the nuclear reactor coolant system.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said signal produced by said comparing means is utilized to control the pressure within the nuclear reactor coolant system.

3. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said signal produced by said comparing means is utilized for on-line and off-line analysis of the operation of the nuclear reactor coolant system.

4. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said signal produced by said comparing means is utilized to create a record upon the occurrence of a specific event.

5. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said signal produced by said comparing means is utilized to produce a record of the continuous operation of the nuclear reactor coolant system.

6. The system as defined in claim 1 further including means for manually inputting data and in formation into said processing means.

7. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said signal produced by said comparing means is utilized to develop control system setpoints.

8. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said signal produced by said comparing means is utilized to develop protection system setpoints.

9. A system, used by a plant operator in controlling the operation of a nuclear reactor coolant system, which automatically calculates and displays allowable reactor coolant system pressure/temperature limits within the nuclear reactor coolant system based upon real-time inputs, comprising:

an input subsystem having sampling and multiplexing units for receiving real-time input signals developed within a nuclear plant;

a processing subsystem connected to said input subsystem, having reactor coolant system normal operation pressure/temperature limits calculation modules, reactor coolant system emergency operation pressure/temperature limits calculation modules, reactor coolant system and auxiliary systems operational limit calculation modules and a multi-tasking host computer, for calculating reactor coolant system pressure/temperature limits based upon said real-time input signals, and producing continuous and event triggered data files; and

an output subsystem connected to said processing subsystem, having means for producing files of said data in various output formats and means for producing real-time displays of said real-time input signals and said reactor coolant system pressure/temperature limits.

10. The system as defined in claim 9, wherein said processing subsystem further includes means for calculating a required nuclear plant secondary side (steam) pressure setpoint as a function of time to cool the nuclear plant down within acceptable limits.

11. The system as defined in claim 10 , wherein said processing subsystem further includes means for calculating a reactor coolant system relief valve setpoint as a function of time which would provide low temperature over-pressure protection of the reactor coolant system.

12. The system as defined in claim 11, wherein said processing subsystem further includes means for determining a maximum decay heat system pressure versus reactor coolant system temperature on the real-time basis.

13. The system as defined in claim 11, wherein said processing subsystem further includes means for performing on-line and of-line analysis functions, based upon said data, to produce various reports, graphics, displays and files.