Dual optical communication network for class 1E reactor protection systems

A communication network for a nuclear power plant protection system, which comprises:

• a plurality of monitoring and control channels, comprising a first pair of channels which includes a first and second channel, said first pair of channels directly communicating with a second pair of channels which includes a third channel and a fourth channel, through a network of data paths;
• a plurality of engineered safety feature trains, comprising a first train and a second train, said first train communicating directly with said first pair of channels, and communicating directly with said second train, said communicating occurring through said network of data paths, said second train communicating directly with said second pair of channels, and communicating directly with said first train, said communicating occurring through said network of data paths;
• a first vital power bus, individually powering said first channel;
• a second vital power bus, individually powering said second channel, and redundantly powering said first train together with said first vital power bus;
• a third vital power bus, individually powering said third channel;
• and
• a fourth vital power bus, individually powering said fourth channel, and redundantly powering said second train together with said third vital power bus.