The development of expert systems for process monitoring in British Nuclear Fuels

British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL) became involved in the development of the application of expert systems technology for the monitoring of process plants, during 1983. This paper describes the development work which has been undertaken to date and the role of the installed systems. The pilot system was called PROMASS (Process Management Advisory and Supervisory system) and was based upon the operation of a full scale pilot plant at Sellafield. The PROMASS system was perceived as a system which would receive the same signals as the data logger end would present this data as well as diagnostic messages to the shift leader in charge of the pilot plant. Through the development of PROMASS and its application to plants throughout BNFL, the company is in a strong position to maximise the benefit from the application of expert systems and other advanced techniques to process monitoring and control