A Microcomputer-Based Radiation Monitoring System for Nuclear Power Plants

When microcomputers replace analog circuitry, advantages such as improved accuracy, better data analysis, and automatic reporting must be evaluated against possible tradeoffs in cost, reliability, and response time. The Westinghouse Radiation Monitoring System (RMS) is an instrumentation system used in nuclear power plants to measure levels of radioactivity. An analog system recently redesigned to use microcomputers, the RMS offers a good example of how microcomputers can successfully replace analog circuitry by placing primary emphasis on system design.