Research and Implementation of SVDU Simulator Based on Emulation Technology

Yanqun Wu,Mingxing Liu,Yu Zhang,Xufeng Tian,Qi Chen,Xu Zhang,Meiyuan Chen,Massimo Zucchetti

doi:10.1155/2021/5524832

Abstract

The safety video display unit (SVDU), as the display machine of the reactor protection system, performs the functions of displaying the reactor’s safety parameters and sending safety control commands. In order to meet the needs of nuclear power safety-level digital control system (DCS), like designing verification, operator training, and accidental drills, for the SVDU in the NASPIC platform developed independently by China National Nuclear Corporation, a virtual embedded system technology based on the micro x86 industrial host is proposed to make software simulation to the SVDU physical controller with exactly the same hardware appearance of the original one. The SVDU stimulator realized by this research can achieve 100% simulation of the logical functions of the SVDU physical equipment and the synchronized upgrading function between stimulator and the real equipment. With the development of multiple engineering application requirements, such as configuration verification and operator training, this stimulator has been applied in several virtual security level DCS projects.

Highlights

Nuclear power plant (NPP) safety-level instrumentation and control (I&C) systems have gone through two stages: instrument control systems and semidigital control systems and have fully turned to the era of DCS
A virtual embedded system technology is proposed to simulate the safety video display unit (SVDU) physical controller based on the micro x86 industrial host. e hardware and structure of the SVDU are designed 1 : 1 to achieve the best simulation performance between the SVDU simulator and the real machine. e simulation functions such as stepping, running, freezing, fast and slow speed, working condition, and environment are realized to meet the requirements of configuration verification, operator training, accidental drills, simulation test, and other engineering requirements
E simulator uses the exactly same LCD screen, key panel, and resistive touchscreen as the real SVDU’s to rebuild the appearance and operation type of the real one. e all-in-one structure is used on the simulator to reduce the interface between the separate components and to further decrease the fault points to increase the stability. e structure of the SVDU simulator is divided into two parts: the main body and the back cover. e three-dimensional assembly diagram is shown in Figure 6. e screen components and keys are fixed in the cavity of the main body, and the micro x86 host and power module are fixed on the back cover plate

Summary

Introduction

Nuclear power plant (NPP) safety-level instrumentation and control (I&C) systems have gone through two stages: instrument control systems and semidigital control systems and have fully turned to the era of DCS. E emulation technology which uses simple computing system to replace the complex physical hardware system simulates the embedded hardware operating environment through computers [2], applies the operating software and configuration data exactly the same in the real one, and can reproduce the hardware, software, and control function features, with higher realistic and lower cost on operation and maintenance, which can meet the multidimensional simulation application requirements of the I&C system. By analyzing the characteristics of CEPR nuclear power technology, Peijin et al proposed a DCS simulation mode combining virtual simulation and functional simulation [1] and Weichang et al proposed a virtual simulation method which firstly establishes the control logic model before the virtual simulation [2]. A virtual embedded system technology is proposed to simulate the SVDU physical controller based on the micro x86 industrial host. e hardware and structure of the SVDU are designed 1 : 1 to achieve the best simulation performance between the SVDU simulator and the real machine. e simulation functions such as stepping, running, freezing, fast and slow speed, working condition, and environment are realized to meet the requirements of configuration verification, operator training, accidental drills, simulation test, and other engineering requirements

SVDU of NASPIC

Functional Requirements of SVDU Simulator

Design of SVDU Simulator

Software Design

Conclusion