Combustion Engineering, Inc.

Robert L Rescorl

Daryl L Harmon

Kenneth Scarola

David S Jamison

Richard M Manazir

Scarola Kenneth

A method for generating a validated measurement of a process parameter at a point in time by using a plurality of individual sensor inputs from a scan of said sensors at said point in time. The sensor inputs from said scan are stored and a first validation pass is initiated by computing an initial average of all stored sensor inputs. Each sensor input is deviation checked by comparing each input including a preset tolerance against the initial average input. If the first deviation check is unsatisfactory, the sensor which produced the unsatisfactory input is flagged as suspect. It is then determined whether at least two of the inputs have not been flagged as suspect and are therefore considered good inputs. If two or more inputs are good, a second validation pass is initiated by computing a second average of all the good sensor inputs, and deviation checking the good inputs by comparing each good input including a present tolerance against the second average. If the second deviation check is satisfactory, the second average is displayed as the validated measurement and the suspect sensor as flagged as bad. A validation fault occurs if at least two inputs are not considered good, or if the second deviation check is not satisfactory. In the latter situation the inputs from each of all the sensors are compared against the last validated measurement and the value from the sensor input that deviates the least from the last valid measurement is displayed.

Method of validating measurement data of a process parameter from a

The content of and hierarchical access to three levels of display pages containing information on critical function monitoring and success path monitoring.

Critical function and success path summary display

The use of alarm indication on the overview (IPSO) display to initiate diagnosis of challenges to critical functions or unavailability of success paths, and further alarm-based guidance toward ultimate diagnosis.

Alarm guided critical function and success path monitoring

The alarm activation set point and priority for a given, spatially fixed alarm tile can vary depending in part on the mode of plant operation.

Dynamic alarm presentation in a nuclear plant control room

Alarm acknowledgment can be made not only at the alarm tile array of a given console but via other touch sensitive alarm indications in the screen displays of the monitoring system at the same or other consoles; also, touching one tile can acknowledge multiple alarm sources.

Alarm acknowledgement in a nuclear plant control room

Indicating the priority of a spatially fixed, activated alarm tile on an alarm tile array by a shape coding at the tile, and preferably using the same shape coding wherever the same alarm condition is indicated elsewhere in the control room. The status of an alarm tile can change automatically or by operator acknowledgement, but tones and/or flashing cues continue to provide status information to the operator.

Priority coding for control room alarms

An advanced control room complex for a nuclear power plant, including a discrete indicator and alarm system (72) which is nuclear qualified for rapid response to changes in plant parameters and a component control system (64) which together provide a discrete monitoring and control capability at a panel (14-22, 26, 28) in the control room (10). A separate data processing system (70), which need not be nuclear qualified, provides integrated and overview information to the control room and to each panel, through CRTs (84) and a large, overhead integrated process status overview board (24). The discrete indicator and alarm system (72) and the data processing system (70) receive inputs from common plant sensors and validate the sensor outputs to arrive at a representative value of the parameter for use by the operator during both normal and accident conditions, thereby avoiding the need for him to assimilate data from each sensor individually. The integrated process status board (24) is at the apex of an information hierarchy that extends through four levels and provides access at each panel to the full display hierarchy. The control room panels are preferably of a modular construction, permitting the definition of inputs and outputs, the man machine interface, and the plant specific algorithms, to proceed in parallel with the fabrication of the panels, the installation of the equipment and the generic testing thereof.

Method of installing a control room console in a nuclear power plant

The invention provides integration of the automatic semiautomatic and manual modes on a single man-machine interface device (200,400), with the master control of a system parameter such as pressurizer level, which is responsive to at least two system components (charging pumps, letdown valves), each of which can adjust a different system variable. The setpoint for automatic master control, is selected and displayed (216) on the device, along with the current value (212) of the setpoint parameter (pressurizer level). In the semiautomatic master mode selectable by the operator on the device, either a setpoint (272) or an output demand (282) can be specified for one of the components (206), and the master controller will then adjust the other component (204) accordingly. When all subgroup controls are in the manual mode, the master controller is completely overridden by operator control of each component or subgroup.

Growing community of inventors

Vernon, CT, United States of America

Robert L Rescorl