November 2009

Conference Paper

Emerging Technologioes in Instrumentation and Controls and Their Potential Regulatory Implications for Nuclear Power Plants

By:
Korsah, Kofi ; Bobrek, Miljko ; Cetiner, Mustafa S; Ewing, Paul D; Holcomb, David E; Howlader, Mostofa K; Killough, Stephen M; Kisner, Roger A; Loebl, Andrew S; Moore, Michael R; Muhlheim, Michael D; Mullens, James A; Shourbaji, Ayman ; Wilson, Thomas L
Publication Date:
November 11, 2009
Conference Name:
Nuclear Power Plant Instrumentation and Controls and Man Machine Interface Technologies (NPIC&HMIT 2009)
Conference Location:
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America

Abstract

This paper provides a summary of eight instrumentation and control (&C) technology areas, with applications in nuclear power plants (NPPs), that were the focus of a recent study performed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC.) The state of the technology�s application in NPPs, along with potential regulatory impact(s), are discussed. The technology focus areas are: (1) sensors and measurement systems, (2) communications media and networking, (3) microprocessors and other integrated circuits, (4) computational platforms, (5) surveillance, diagnostics, and prognostics, (6) human-system interactions, (7) high-integrity software, and (8) I&C architectures in new plants. The regulatory implications of these focus areas with regard to their application in NPPs are also discussed.

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