Abstract
Digital distributed instrumentation and control system (DCS) is critical to the safety of nuclear power plants (NPPs). Static analysis methods developed from analog control system are not applicable to DCS due to its enhanced dynamic interactions and complex structure of hardware/software/firmware. The enhanced dynamic interactions of DCS include both sequence and timing factors, which are hardly modelled in the traditional Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA). In this study, dynamic FMEA (DFMEA) method based on simulation technology is put forward for the design and review of DCS in NPP. DFMEA based on real DCS hardware and software is developed to reveal the dynamic failure paths and failure modes. The results of DFMEA can well support the establishment of the dynamic fault tree/event tree in the review of NPP DCS, which reduces the dependency on the analyst’s experience significantly.
Highlights
FMEA (Failure Mode and Effect Analysis) plays an important role in PSA analysis in nuclear power plant (NPP)
The traditional FMEA is mainly based on static analysis, which depends on the analyst's experience
We proposed dynamic FMEA analysis that combines the simulation technology of nuclear power plant with the failure analysis of Digital Instrument and Control System (DCS), which helps to analyze the dynamic failure behavior of DCS
Summary
FMEA (Failure Mode and Effect Analysis) plays an important role in PSA analysis in nuclear power plant (NPP). Has complex structure composed of firmware/software/hardware and interactions between components and the controlled process system [1,2]. Both failure sequence and timing should be considered in the FMEA of a DCS system. The dynamic interactions of DCS make it difficult to conduct comprehensive and accurate analysis based on the analyst's experience [3,4]. We proposed dynamic FMEA analysis that combines the simulation technology of nuclear power plant with the failure analysis of DCS, which helps to analyze the dynamic failure behavior of DCS conveniently and effectively. The main feedwater control system of NPP is analyzed in detail using this method to illustrate the dynamic FMEA method is applicable and practical for complex DCS system
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