Method for Fault Diagnosis of Digital Control Systems in Nuclear Power Plant

Abstract

This paper presents a method for localizing faulty components of control systems by replaceable parts such as print boards and cables, in a large scale plant like a nuclear power plant. Most of today's control systems form a distributed configuration including many digital controllers interconnected by data communication networks. Usually, to localize the faulty components in nuclear plant control systems, suspected faulty components are narrowed down by executing manual tests to examine whether the objects are normal or abnormal based on design documents and personnel know-how, besides the use of self-diagnosis functions built into the control systems. In the present method, procedures of various tests including the know-how and checking of self-diagnosis functions are provided as knowledge of tests. The test to be executed is determined by considering failure probabilities of objects, and easiness and effectiveness of testing. Then, the suspects are narrowed down sequentially based on the test result. In checking feasibility of this diagnosis method for a simulated control system, intended faults are satisfactorily localized. This method is confirmed to be practicable for diagnosis of large scale digital control systems.