System and method for monitoring and control of safety-related components of a nuclear power plant

In a nuclear power plant installation of a variety having a controllable nuclear reactor, normal operational control means having parameter monitor outputs and responsive to control inputs for effecting nominal mode control over said reactor, divisional operational control means including at least two independent divisions having qualified safety system logic, monitoring and control devices for providing safety status parameter outputs and responsive to select safety directive inputs for providing safety mode control over said reactor, and an operator manned control region including a control position having an operator interface for the assertion of said control inputs, the intiation of said safety directive inputs and initiation of safety status parameter inputs, the improved control system, comprising:

• display means located at said control position, responsive to display inputs for deriving operator readable information;
• isolated communication link means for providing electrically isolated communication of said initiated safety directive inputs from said operator interface to each said division;
• communications input means within each said division for receiving said initiated safety directive inputs and providing corresponding trial safety directive signals;
• memory means within each said division for retaining a library collection of accessible predetermined valid said safety directive inputs;
• register means within each said division for retaining said received trial safety directive signals;
• display controller means within each said division for deriving said display inputs in response to information inputs transferred thereto;
• input and output port means within each said division for effecting control and monitoring communication with said safety system logic, monitoring and control devices;
• control means within each said division responsive to said communications input means for locating said trial safety directive signal at said register means, responsive to access said memory means library collection to retrieve a said valid safety directive input corresponding with said register means retained trial safety directive, responsive to effect transmission only of said retrieved valid safety directive input from said output port means to effect said safety mode control over said reactor.

In a nuclear power plant installation of a variety having a controllable nuclear reactor, normal operational control means having parameter monitor outputs and responsive to control inputs for effecting nominal mode control over said reactor, divisional operational control means including at least two independent divisions having qualified safety system logic, monitoring and control devices for providing safety status parameter outputs and responsive to select safety directive inputs for providing safety mode control over said reactor, and an operator manned control region including a control position having an operator interface for the assertion of said control inputs, the initiation of said safety directive inputs and initiation of safety status parameter inputs, said safety directive inputs and said safety status parameter inputs being transmissible over an optical isolation communications link within each said division, and said operator interface including a display providing visual readouts to said operator in response to display inputs, and each said division including a manually actuable operator acknowledge device at said control position, the division safety system interface apparatus comprising:

• communications input means for receiving said initiated safety directive inputs and providing corresponding trial safety directive signals;
• first register means controllable to selectively retain said received trial safety directive signals;
• memory means for retaining a compilation of accessible valid said safety directive inputs;
• input and output port means for effecting communications with said safety system logic, monitoring and control devices;
• and
• control means responsive to said communications input means for locating said trial safety directive signals at said first register means, responsive to access said memory means compilation to retrieve a said valid safety directive input corresponding with said register means retained trial safety directive signal, responsive to effect transmission only of said retrieved valid safety directive input from said output port means to effect said safety mode control over said reactor.

In a nuclear power plant installation of a variety having a controllable nuclear reactor, normal operational control means having parameter monitor outputs and responsive to control inputs for effecting nominal mode control over said reactor, divisional operational control means including at least two independent divisions having qualified safety system logic, monitoring and control devices for providing safety status parameter outputs, and an operator manned control region including a control position having an operator interface for the assertion of said control inputs and the initiation of safety status parameter inputs, the improved control system comprising:

• display means located at said control position, responsive to display inputs for deriving operator readable information;
• isolated communications link means for providing electrically isolated communication of said initiated safety status parameter inputs from said operator interface to each said division;
• communications input means within each said division for receiving said intiated safety status parameter inputs and providing corresponding trial safety status parameter signals;
• memory means within each division for retaining a library collection of accessible predetermined valid said safety status parameter inputs;
• register means within each said division for retaining said trial safety status parameter signals;
• display controller means within each said division for deriving said display inputs in response to information inputs transferred thereto;
• input and output port means within each said division for effecting control and monitoring communication with said safety system logic, monitoring and control devices;
• control means within each said division responsive to said communications input means for locating said trial safety status parameter signals at said register means, responsive to access said memory means library collection to retrieve a said predetermined valid safety status parameter input corresponding with said register means retained trial safety status parameter signal, responsive to effect transmission only of said retrieved valid safety status parameter input from said output port means to a corresponding said safety system monitoring device and retrieve therefrom a corresponding said safety status parameter output at said output port means, responsive to convey said retrieved safety status parameter output from said input port means as a said information input to said display controller means for deriving said display inputs in correspondence therewith.