Microcomputer-based fault detection using redundant sensors

The design of a prototype device that implements a redundancy management scheme for online detection and isolation of faulty sensors in strategic facilities such as nuclear reactors, hazardous chemical plants, and advanced aircraft is presented. Such a device can potentially reduce the number of display devices in the control room and relieve the plant operator(s) from the tasks of assimilation and analysis of redundant sensor data as well as enhance the processing capabilities of the main computer. The device can be used as an integral part of intelligent instrumentation systems. It was built using an 8-bit microcomputer system and commercially available electronic hardware. The software is completely portable. The operation of a prototype has been successfully demonstrated for real-time validation of sensor data at the MITR-II nuclear research reactor