# US 11,442,423 B2 · Systems and methods for monitoring a power-generation module assembly after a power-generation module shutdown event

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- Number: US 11,442,423 B2
- Document ID: US11442423B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/133,808
- Filed: 2020-12-24
- Published: 2021-09-02
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2015-08-14
- Assignees: NuScale Power, LLC
- Applicants: NuScale Power, LLC
- Inventors: Don Buenaventura; Doug Bowman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442423B2

## CPC

- G05B 19/048: Monitoring; Safety
- G05B 15/02: electric
- G05B 23/0267: {Fault communication, e.g. human machine interface [HMI]}
- G05B 2219/24015: Monitoring
- G05B 2219/2639: Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
- Y02E 30/00: Energy generation of nuclear origin
- Y04S 10/52: Outage or fault management, e.g. fault detection or location
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS

## Abstract

Embodiments are directed to providing a user interface (UI) that streamlines and simplifies the process of monitoring critical power-generation module (PGM) parameters after a PGM assembly is shutdown. The UI displays, in real-time, indicators corresponding to one or more post-shutdown PGM parameters. The UI provides indications of whether the post-shutdown PGM parameters meet post-shutdown criteria of the PGM assembly. When a post-shutdown PGM parameter does not meet the post-shutdown criteria, a user alert is provided to the user. A protocol may additionally be provided to the user. In some embodiments, the protocol may enable the user to return the PGM assembly to a condition that satisfies the post-shutdown criteria. The protocol may be a safety protocol and/or an asset protection protocol.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
for at least a first power generation module (PGM), receive sensed data from a PGM-specific monitoring sensor;
detect an event corresponding to a shutdown of the first PGM; and
in response to detecting the event corresponding to the shutdown of the first PGM:
categorize sensed data from the first PGM into multiple post-shutdown PGM categories, with individual categories representing data corresponding to different individual safety aspects of PGM shutdown; and
generate a shutdown monitoring user interface (UI) for display on a first display, the first display being associated with the first PGM, wherein the shutdown monitoring UI includes a first window portion and a second window portion, and wherein information corresponding to sensed data in a first post-shutdown PGM category is displayed in the first window portion and information corresponding to sensed data in a second post-shutdown PGM category is displayed in the second window portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, for an individual post-shutdown PGM category:
analyze the sensed data associated with the first PGM to determine whether a PGM parameter related to the safety aspect represented by the individual post-shutdown PGM category is outside of a threshold associated with the parameter; and
in response to determining that all of the PGM parameters related to the safety aspect represented by the individual post-shutdown PGM category are within respective thresholds, provide a graphical indicator representing a summary status of the sensed data associated with the individual category, the graphical indicator representing that all of the PGM parameters related to the safety aspect are within respective thresholds.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, for an individual post-shutdown PGM category:
analyze the sensed data associated with the first PGM to determine whether a PGM parameter related to the safety aspect represented by the individual post-shutdown PGM category is outside of a threshold associated with the parameter; and
in response to determining the PGM parameter related to the safety aspect represented by the individual post-shutdown PGM category is outside of a threshold, provide a graphical indicator representing a summary status of the sensed data associated with the individual category, the graphical indicator representing that at least one PGM parameter of the individual PGM category is outside of a safe range.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to provide, for display in a third window portion of the shutdown monitoring UI, a safety protocol associated with correcting the PGM parameter related to the safety aspect represented by an individual first post-shutdown PGM category.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein an individual post-shutdown PGM category includes reactivity control.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein an individual post-shutdown PGM category includes core cooling.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein an individual post-shutdown PGM category includes containment isolation.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the shutdown monitoring UI includes a third window portion, and wherein the sensed data associated with a third post-shutdown PGM category is displayed in the third window portion.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first post-shutdown PGM category includes containment isolation, the second post-shutdown PGM category includes reactivity control, and the third post-shutdown PGM category includes core cooling.

### Claim 10

A method for a operating power generation module, comprising:
for at least a first power generation module (PGM), receiving sensed data from a PGM-specific monitoring sensor;
detecting an event corresponding to a shutdown of the first PGM; and
in response to detecting the event corresponding to the shutdown of the first PGM:
categorizing sensed data from the first PGM into multiple post-shutdown PGM categories, with individual categories representing data corresponding to different individual safety aspects of PGM shutdown; and
generating a shutdown monitoring user interface (UI) for display on a first display, the first display being associated with the first PGM, wherein the shutdown monitoring UI includes a first window portion and a second window portion, and wherein information corresponding to sensed data in a first post-shutdown PGM category is displayed in the first window portion and information corresponding to sensed data in a second post-shutdown PGM category is displayed in the second window portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising, for an individual post-shutdown PGM category:
analyzing the sensed data associated with the first PGM to determine whether a PGM parameter related to the safety aspect represented by the individual post-shutdown PGM category is outside of a threshold associated with the parameter; and
in response to determining that all of the PGM parameters related to the safety aspect represented by the individual post-shutdown PGM category are within respective thresholds, providing a graphical indicator representing a summary status of the sensed data associated with the individual category, the graphical indicator representing that all of the PGM parameters related to the safety aspect are within respective thresholds.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising, for an individual post-shutdown PGM category:
analyzing the sensed data associated with the first PGM to determine whether a PGM parameter related to the safety aspect represented by the individual post-shutdown PGM category is outside of a threshold associated with the parameter; and
in response to determining the PGM parameter related to the safety aspect represented by the individual post-shutdown PGM category is outside of a threshold, providing a graphical indicator representing a summary status of the sensed data associated with the individual category, the graphical indicator representing that at least one PGM parameter of the individual PGM category is outside of a safe range.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying, in a third window portion of the shutdown monitoring UI, a safety protocol associated with correcting the PGM parameter related to the safety aspect represented by an individual first post-shutdown PGM category.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein an individual post-shutdown PGM category includes reactivity control.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein an individual post-shutdown PGM category includes core cooling.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein an individual post-shutdown PGM category includes containment isolation.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the shutdown monitoring UI includes a third window portion, and wherein the sensed data associated with a third post-shutdown PGM category is displayed in the third window portion.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the first post-shutdown PGM category includes containment isolation, the second post-shutdown PGM category includes reactivity control, and the third post-shutdown PGM category includes core cooling.