Construction and evaluation of fault detection network for signal validation

The authors present a methodology which performs evaluation and construction of a sensor failure detection network for nuclear power plant signal validation. The network is arranged in a fault-tree structure which consists of sensors, mathematical models for sensor relations, and decision/estimators derived from parity relations. The evaluation scheme performs a logic state analysis to categorize critical signals and the associated sensors. The construction scheme cooperates with the evaluation scheme to build a detection network automatically using a rule-based algorithm. The package is implemented on a microcomputer and is demonstrated for the nuclear steam supply of a PWR (pressurized water reactor) plant.<>