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US 4,434,132 AGranted
Power supply with nuclear reactor
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorBruce M. Cook
Life of this patent
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AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorBruce M. Cook
Estimating the term…
Each parameter of the processes of the nuclear reactor and of the components of a power supply which convert the thermal energy generated by the reactor into electrical power is monitored by a set of four like sensors. One each of the unlike sensors which monitor the different parameters is contained in a reactor-trip logic channel. Each such unlike sensor is referred to here as a "local sensor". Each channel is interlocked with the other three channels and receives the signals sensed by the other three sensors, herein called "remote sensors". Each channel also includes means for processing the signals from the local and remote sensors. The apparatus also includes means for tripping the reactor to deenergize or trip the control rod drive and insert the control rods fully into the core so that the reactor stops supplying power. The apparatus normally operates on a "two out of four" configuration. This assumes that all sensors are in normal operating condition. To achieve this purpose, eight circuit breakers are provided. Two breaker contactors are controlled by each channel. The control is through the undervoltage relays of the respective breakers. To trip the reactor, it is necessary that at least four breaker contactors be opened by operation of two channels.
Power supply apparatus including a nuclear reactor and components cooperative with said reactor for converting the thermal energy generated by said reactor into electrical power, said reactor and said components having a plurality of processes, each process having one or more parameters to be monitored, means connected to said reactor, when actuated, tripping said reactor, a set of like sensors for monitoring each of said parameters, bypass means connected to each of said sensors of each set for bypassing each of said sensors when a sensor is subject to test or maintenance or is defective or disabled or the like, means, responsive to sensing by a first sensor of a set of an off-normal parameter to condition said tripping means to be actuated to trip said reactor, means, responsive to said bypass means, connected to said first sensor, for permitting said conditioning means for said first sensor to condition a trip of said reactor if said first sensor is not bypassed and for disabling said conditioning means for said first sensor from conditioning a trip if said first sensor is bypassed, and means responsive to a second unbypassed sensor of said set, on the sensing by said second sensor of an off-normal parameter, while said first sensor is also unbypassed and senses said off-normal parameter, to trip said reactor.
Power supply apparatus including a nuclear reactor and components cooperative with said reactor for converting the thermal energy generated by said reactor into electrical power, said reactor and said components having a plurality of processes, each process having one or more parameters to be monitored, means, connected to said reactor, when actuated tripping said reactor, a plurality of channels, said plurality being herein designated as n in number, each said channel having a sensor, connected to said reactor and/or to said components, for monitoring each of said parameters, there being n like local sensors in the n channels for monitoring each parameter, each said channel including means, when actuated, conditioning said reactor tripping means to be actuated, bypass means connected to each sensor for bypassing said sensor when said sensor is subject to test or maintenance or is defective or disabled or the like, the bypass of a sensor in each channel being herein called a local bypass, means impressing intelligence in each channel of local bypasses of the sensors in the other channels, the local bypass in another channel whose intelligence is impressed in said each channel being herein called a remote bypass with respect to said each channel, means, responsive to the detection of an off-normal parameter by a sensor, for actuating the conditioning means of the channel of said last-named sensor, means, responsive to the actuation of the conditioning means of a plurality, m-1, channels, where m is less than n, for actuating said tripping means to trip said reactor on the actuation of the conditioning means of the mth channel, means, responsive to a local bypass in a channel, for preventing the conditioning means of said channel from being actuated, and means, responsive both to a local bypass of a sensor and a remote bypass of a like sensor in a channel for actuating the conditioning means of said channel.
Power supply apparatus including a nuclear reactor and components, cooperative with said reactor, for converting the thermal energy generated by said reactor into electrical power, said reactor and said components having a plurality of processes, each process having one or more parameters to be monitored, means, connected to said reactor, when actuated, tripping said reactor, a plurality of monitoring channels for said parameters, each of said channels having a plurality of sensors, each sensor herein called a local sensor, each of said local sensors being connected to said reactor and/or to said components, for sensing a different one of said parameters, first impressing means, connecting to each of said channels, the like sensors, herein called remote sensors, of the other channels, to impress their sensed signals in said each channel, bypassing means in each channel, cooperative with each local sensor of said channel, for bypassing said each local sensor when said local sensor is subject to test or maintenance or is defective or disabled or the like, impressing means in each channel for impressing, in each of the other channels, intelligence of a bypass of a sensor in said last-named each other channel, said bypass being herein referred to as a remote bypass with respect to said each of said other channels, means, connected to said tripping means, and responsive to the sensing of an off-normal parameter by unbypassed local sensor of a channel and an unbypassed remote sensor of the same set in the same channel for actuating said tripping means to trip said reactor, and means, responsive to the bypassing by said first bypassing means of a local sensor of a channel and to intelligence impressed by said impressing means in said channel of the bypass of a remote sensor of the same set as said local sensor for only conditioning said reactor to be tripped.
The method of testing power-supply apparatus including a nuclear reactor and components cooperative with said reactor for converting the thermal energy of said reactor into electrical power, said reactor and said components having a plurality of processes, each process having one or more parameters to be monitored, means, connected to said reactor, when actuated, tripping said reactor, a plurality of monitoring channels for said parameters, each of said channels having a plurality of sensors, connected to said reactor and/or to said components, each for sensing a different one of said parameters, means, in each said channels, connected to said reactor tripping means, when actuated, for conditioning said reactor to trip on the sensing of an off-normal parameter by a sensor or on the bypassing of like sensors in said each channel and in another channel, and means in each channel for indicating the bypass, of a sensor in said channel;
Power supply apparatus including a nuclear reactor and components cooperative with said reactor for converting the thermal energy of said reactor into electrical power, said reactor and said components having a plurality of processes, each said process having one or more parameters to be monitored, means connected to said reactor, when actuated, for tripping said reactor, a plurality of monitoring channels for said parameters, each of said channels having a plurality of sensors, connected to said reactor and/or to said components, each sensor for sensing a different one of said parameters, each of said channels also included a plurality of relays, each relay connected to one of the sensors of said each channel, each said relay having a contact, a trip bus, a sensor status bus, means connecting said contacts of said relays in parallel between said busses, said contacts of all said relays being open disconnecting said buses in the absence of an off-normal parameter, means responsive to the sensing by at least one sensor of an off-normal parameter, for actuating the relay connected to the sensor to close its contact and connect the trip bus to the sensor status bus, and means, responsive to the connection of said busses, to condition said reactor to be tripped.
Power-supply apparatus including a nuclear reactor and components cooperative with said reactor for converting the thermal energy generated by said reactor into electrical energy, said reactor and said components having a plurality of processes, each processes having one or more parameters to be monitored, means, connected to said reactor, when actuated, for tripping said reactor, a plurality of sets of like sensors, the like sensors of each set monitoring a said parameter by sensing said parameter, means for bypassing any of each of said sensors when said any of said each of said sensors is subject to test or maintenances or is defective or disabled or the like, means, connected to said sensors and to said reactor-tripping means and responsive to the sensing by a first sensor of an off-normal parameter, for conditioning said tripping means to trip said reactor, means, connected to said tripping means, responsive to the sensing of an off-normal parameter by a second sensor while said tripping means is conditioned as aforesaid, for tripping said reactor, means, responsive to the bypassing of only said second sensor by said bypassing means, while said reactor tripping means is so conditioned, for preventing the tripping of said reactor, and means, responsive to the bypassing of another sensor of the same set as said second sensor in addition to said second sensor, while said tripping means is so conditioned, for tripping said reactor.
Power-supply apparatus including a nuclear reactor and components for converting the thermal energy generated by said reactor into electrical power, said reactor and said components having a plurality of processes, each process having one or more parameters to be monitored, means, connected to said reactor, when actuated, for tripping said reactor, a set of like sensors, connected to said reactor and/or to said components, for monitoring each of said parameters, a plurality of channels, each channel herein called a local channel, including a sensor, herein called a local sensor of each set, means connected to the sensors or the other channels, herein called remote channels, for impressing the signals sensed by the sensors, herein called remote sensors, included in the remote channels, on each local channel, each said local channel including means for processing the signals sensed by said local and remote sensors, the said processing means including in each channel:
Power-supply apparatus including a nuclear reactor and components, cooperative with said reactor, for converting the thermal energy generated by said reactor into electrical power, said reactor and said components having a plurality of processes, each process having one or more parameters, to be monitored, means, connected to said reactor, when actuated, tripping said reactor, a set of like sensors for monitoring each of said parameters, means connected to each sensor of a set, actuable on the sensing by said sensor of an off-normal parameter, to condition said tripping means to trip said reactor, bypass means connected to each of said sensors, to bypass any of said each of said sensors when said any of said each of said sensors is subject to test or maintenance or is defective or disabled or the like, means for generating a pulsating signal, gate means having an input and an output, means for impressing said pulsating signal on said input, means connecting said output to said conditioning means, said gate means when open permitting the flow of said pulsating signal to said conditioning means and when closed preventing the flow of said pulsating signal to said conditioning means, means connecting the bypass means to the gate means, for controlling the transmission of said pulsating signal, from said generating means through said conditioning means, in dependence upon the presence or absence of a bypass about a sensor, and means, responsive to the conduction or non-conduction by said conditioning means of said pulsating signal, for distinguishing between the presence or absence of a bypass, said pulsating signal being incapable of actuating said conditioning means.
Control apparatus including a relay, a computer having a memory, a power supply, means for connecting said supply to said relay for energizing said relay, said connecting means including a first conductor and a second conductor, both said conductors being normally connected to said supply, said relay being in energized condition when either conductors is connected to said supply, means, responsive to the occurrence of a first event, for disconnecting said first conductor from said supply to condition said relay to be deenergized, means connected to said computer and responsive to the disconnection of said first conductor for signaling said computer intelligence of the disconnection of said first conductor, and means responsive to the presence of intelligence of a second event in the memory of said computer when said computer is signalled as aforesaid, for disconnecting said second conductor from said supply to deenergize said relay.
Test apparatus for a computer including means for generating pulses of high and low magnitude, means impressing said pulses in the input of said computer, said computer desirably to deliver a pulse of predetermined configuration to its output responsive to each pulse impressed on its input, a timer, means connected to said generating means and to said timer and responsive to each pulse generated by said generating means, for initiating the timing of said timer as each pulse is impressed on said input, means connected to said output and to said timer, for terminating the timing of said timer on the delivery of said pulse of predetermined configuration at said output, and means responsive to the failure undesirably by said computer to deliver a said pulse of said predetermined configuration to its output within a predetermined interval after the corresponding pulse from the generator has been delivered to its input, to produce a manifestation of said failure.
Power-supply apparatus including a nuclear reactor and components cooperative with said reactor for converting the thermal energy generated by said reactor into electrical power, said reactor and said components having a plurality of processes, each process having one or more parameters to be monitored, means, connected to said reactor, when actuated, tripping said reactor, a set of like sensors for monitoring each of said parameters, bypass means connected to each of said sensors of each set, for bypassing any of each of said sensors when a said any sensor is subject to test or maintenance or is defective or disabled or the like, and means, responsive to said sensors on the occurrence only of any one of the following events, for actuating said tripping means to trip said reactor:
Power-supply apparatus including a nuclear reactor and components cooperative with said reactor for converting the thermal energy generated by said reactor into electrical power, said reactor and said components having a plurality of processes, each of said processes having one or more parameters to be monitored, means, connected to said reactor, when actuated, tripping said reactor, a set of like sensors for monitoring each of said parameters, bypass means, connected to each of said sensors, for bypassing the sensor to which it is connected when said last-named sensor is in a condition requiring bypass, a plurality of channels, each channel associated with one each of the like sensors of the sets, each channel including means for conditioning said reactor-tripping means to trip said reactor, means, connecting each sensor associated with a channel, (herein called local sensor), and each sensor associated with the other channels, (herein called remote sensor) in controlling relationship with said conditioning means of its local channel such that when a local sensor senses an off-normal parameter, said conditioning means, is conditioned to trip said reactor, means, responsive to the bypass of a local sensor, for disabling the controlling means of its local channel from conditioning the conditioning means to condition as aforesaid, means, responsive to the bypassing of said local sensor, for transmitting to all remote channels intelligence of the bypass of said local sensor, means, responsive to a bypass of a remote sensor and also a bypass of a local sensor for disabling the transmitting means of the local channel so that the intelligence of the bypass of the local sensor is not transmitted to the remote channels, and means, responsive to intelligence of a bypass of a remote sensor and also to bypass of the local sensor, for conditioning the tripping of said reactor by the conditioning means of said local channel.
The method of testing power-supply apparatus including a nuclear reactor and components cooperative with said reactor for converting the thermal energy of said reactor into electrical power, said reactor and said components having a plurality of processes, each process having one or more parameters to be monitored, means, connected to said reactor and/or to said components, when actuated, tripping said reactor, a plurality of monitoring channels for said parameters, each of said channels having a plurality of sensors, connected to said reactor and/or to said components, each for sensing a different one of said parameters, means, in each of said channels, connected to said tripping means, when actuated, for conditioning said reactor to trip on the sensing of an off-normal parameter by a sensor or on the bypassing of like sensors in said each channel and in another channel, and means, in each channel, for indicating the bypass of a sensor in said channel;
The method of claim 31 wherein the bypass recited in subparagraph (d) of claim 37 is a simulated bypass.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.