Modelling of nuclear plant system interactions, using a "layered-data" concept

• Published in: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States) Vol. 41; no. 4; pp. 1379 - 1383
• Main Authors: Beck, C.E., Behera, A.K.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.08.1994; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: 990200 > Mathematics & Computers; Applied sciences; COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN; Coolants; Cooling; DESIGN; DOCUMENTATION; Energy; Energy exchange; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; EXPERT SYSTEMS; Fission nuclear power plants; Fuels; GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE; Inductors; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; Mechanical sensors; MODIFICATIONS; NUCLEAR FACILITIES; NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS; Petroleum; POWER PLANTS; Q1; SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; Spraying; THERMAL POWER PLANTS 210000 > Nuclear Power Plants; Valves; Water heating; Data; Nuclear power plant; Layer; Modeling; Interaction; Expert system
• ISSN: 0018-9499; 1558-1578
• DOI: 10.1109/23.322917

Trends in the US Nuclear Power Industry require increasing levels of detail in the documentation of proposed modifications to plant systems. One driving force for this trend is the recognition that changes in one system can easily impact many other systems. These "system interactions" can be very subtle, can have very dramatic influence on plant safety, and may be easily overlooked during a project's design phase. This paper proposes a concept for an expert system that will perform, in variable levels of detail, a review of system interactions. It explores methods of establishing the layered-data structure and developing a search strategy that is optimum for any given proposed plant modification. Methods of testing the concept are also proposed.< >