Abstract
This paper presents a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) application for nuclear power plants, and introduces Toshiba FPGA-based Instrumentation and Control (I&C) systems as typical examples. An FPGA is a semiconductor device including more than thousands of logic gates which can be connected to constitute application specific circuits. A notable feature of FPGA is its simplicity. Thanks to this feature, several companies including Toshiba have developed FPGA based-systems for nuclear power plants recently. The simplicity of FPGAs is one of the most notable advantages to provide cost-effective options for I&C systems, ensuring reliable and safe operation of nuclear power plants.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
NUREG/CR-6992. Instrumentation and Controls in Nuclear Power Plants: An Emerging Technologies Update United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, October, 2009
M. Bobrek, R.T. Wood, C.D., Ward, S.M. Killlough, D. Bouldin, M.E. Waterman, Safe FPGA design practices for instrumentation and control in nuclear plants, in IAEA First Workshop on the Application of FPGA in Nuclear Power Plants, 2008, Presentation files are available via http://entrac.iaea.org/I-and-C/WS_EDF_CHATOU_2008_10/Start.htm. Accessed 31 March 2012
P. Salaün, Interest in FPGA/ASIC Technology for I&C Systems in NPP, IAEA First Workshop on the Application of FPGA in Nuclear Power Plants, 2008, Presentation files are available via http://entrac.iaea.org/I-and-C/WS_EDF_CHATOU_2008_10/Start.htm. Accessed 31 March 2012
US NRC Safety Evaluation by the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Related to Amendment No. 181 to Renewed Facility Operating License No. FPF-42 Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation Wolf Creek Generating Station Docket No. 50–482, http://www.nrc.gov. Accessed 31 March 2012
A. Andrashov, V. Kharchenko, V. Sklyar, A. Siora, Innovative approach to implementation of FPGA-based NPP instrumentation and control systems. Nucl. Saf. Simul. 2(4), 364–373 (2011)
IEEE Standard 7-4.3.2-2003. IEEE Standard Criteria for Digital Computers in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power Generating Stations, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (December, 2003)
IEEE Standard 1012–1998. IEEE Standard for Software Verification and Validation, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (March, 1998)
A. Kojima, M. Kato, M. Tahira, T. Miyazaki, N. Oda, Y. Goto, T. Hayashi, Qualification of Toshiba’s FPGA-based safety-related systems, in Seventh American Nuclear Society International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control and Human-Machine Interface Technologies NPIC&HMIT, Las Vegas (November 7–11, 2010)
T. Maekawa, T. Hayashi, Next Generation Technologies in the Digital I&C Systems for Nuclear Power Plants, in Advances in Light Water Reactor Technologies (Springer, New York, 2011), pp. 223–250. ISBN 978-1-4419-7100-5
JEAG 4609-2008. Guidelines for Verification and Validation of Digital Safety Protection Systems of Nuclear Power Plants, The Japan Electric Association (March 2008) (in Japanese)
EPRI TR-107330. Generic Requirements Specification for Qualifying a Commercially Available PLC for Safety-Related Applications in Nuclear Power Plants, Electric Power Research Institute (December, 1996)
IEC 62566. Nuclear Power Plants. Instrumentation and control important to safety – Development of HDL-programmed integrated circuits for systems performing category A Functions, International Electrotechnical Commission (January, 2012)
Acknowledgement
The authors would like to acknowledge engineers of Toshiba who are working for FPGA-based I&C systems.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Nomenclatures
Nomenclatures
- ABWR:
-
Advanced Boiling Water Reactor
- ALS:
-
Advanced Logic System
- APRM:
-
Average Power Range Monitor
- ASIC:
-
Application Specific Integrated Circuit
- D/W:
-
Drywell
- DTF:
-
Digital Trip Function
- EdF:
-
Électricité de France
- EEPROM:
-
Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory
- EFT/B:
-
Electrical Fast Transient/Burst
- EMC:
-
Electromagnetic Compatibility
- EMI/RFI:
-
Electromagnetic Interference/Radio-Frequency Interference
- EPRI:
-
Electric Power Research Institute
- EQ:
-
Equipment Qualification
- ESD:
-
Electrostatic Discharge
- ESFAS:
-
Engineering Safety Features Actuation System
- FE:
-
Functional element
- FPGA:
-
Field Programmable Gate Array
- HMI:
-
Human Machine Interface
- I&C:
-
Instrumentation and Control
- IEC:
-
International Electrotechnical Commission
- LD:
-
Load Driver
- LPRM:
-
Local Power Range Monitor
- MSFIS:
-
Main Steam and Feedwater Isolation System
- NMS:
-
Neutron Monitoring System
- NPP:
-
Nuclear power plant
- OLU:
-
Output Logic Unit
- PLA:
-
Programmable Logic Array
- PLC:
-
Programmable Logic Controller
- PRNM:
-
Power Range Neutron Monitor
- RMCPS:
-
Automatic Regulation, Monitoring, Control, and Protection System for Research Reactors
- RPCLS:
-
Reactor Power Control and Limitation System
- RPS:
-
Reactor Protection System
- RTIS:
-
Reactor Trip and Isolation System
- RTS:
-
Reactor Trip System
- SEU:
-
Single event upsets
- SPTM:
-
Suppression Pool Temperature Monitoring Calculation
- SRAM:
-
Static Random Access Memory
- SSLC:
-
Safety System Logic and Control
- TC:
-
Technical Committee
- TIP:
-
Traverse in-core probe
- TLF:
-
Trip Logic Function
- USNRC:
-
United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- V&V:
-
Verification and validation
- VHDL:
-
VHSIC (Very High Speed Integrated Circuit) Hardware Description Language
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Japan
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Hayashi, T., Kojima, A., Miyazaki, T., Oda, N., Wakita, K., Furusawa, T. (2014). Application of FPGA to Nuclear Power Plant I&C Systems. In: Yoshikawa, H., Zhang, Z. (eds) Progress of Nuclear Safety for Symbiosis and Sustainability. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54610-8_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54610-8_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo
Print ISBN: 978-4-431-54609-2
Online ISBN: 978-4-431-54610-8
eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)