US5009833A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Expert system for surveillance, diagnosis and prognosis of plant operation
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1989-01-11
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Granted: 1991-04-23
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Expires: 2009-01-11
Abstract
Abstract An expert system is used to perform surveillance, diagnosis and prognosis of a plant such as a nuclear reactor used in electrical power generation. The expert system uses one of current actual plant data, previously stored actual plant data or simulated plant data as plant condition data to perform an evaluation of operating conditions in the plant. When current actual plant data is used, a data acquisition system supplies the plant condition data. The expert system accesses the plant condition data, regardless of its source, periodically as a surveillance frame is triggered by the rules in the root frame controlling the expert system. Other frames in the expert system perform diagnosis and prognosis of the plant condition.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenji Takeuchi
- 👤 Andre F. Gagnon
- 👤 Augustine C. Cheung
- 👤 Philip E. Meyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06N; G06N5/00; Y; Y04; Y04S; Y04S10/00; Y04S10/50; Y10; Y10S; Y10S706/00; Y10S706/902; Y10S706/911; Y10S706/914
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for analyzing operating conditions in a plant, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining plant condition data indicative of the operating conditions in the plant; (b) evaluating the plant condition data using an expert system rule base to determine probabilities of existence of abnormal circumstances; (c) predicting effects of the abnormal circumstances in dependence upon the plant condition
Claim 2
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for analyzing operating conditions in a plant, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining plant condition data indicative of the operating conditions in the plant; (b) evaluating the plant condition data using an expert system rule base to determine probabilities of existence of abnormal circumstances; (c) predicting effects of the abnormal circumstances in dependence upon the plant condition
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises at least one of: (a1) monitoring operational units in the plant to obtain current actual plant data as the plant condition data concurrently with execution of step (b); (a2) inputting previously recorded actual plant data as the plant condition data; and (a3) receiving simulated plant data as the plant condition data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising the steps of: (d) providing, as alternatives for said obtaining, said monitoring of step (a1), said inputting of step (a2) and said receiving of step (a3); and (e) selecting one of said monitoring of step (a1), said inputting of step (a2) and said receiving of step (a3) to obtain the plant condition data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as recited in claim 3, wherein said evaluating in step (b) includes the step of periodically updating the plant condition data using the current actual plant data obtained by said monitoring in step (a).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 2, wherein step (b) comprises: (b1) chaining rules backward to determine possible causes of the operating conditions; and (b2) determining probable occurrence of events using forward chaining logic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method as recited in claim 2, wherein step (b) comprises: (b1) determining whether the plant condition data indicates that an operation effecting event has occurred; (b2) evaluating the plant condition data for the abnormal circumstances unlikely to cause the operation effecting event within a predetermined amount of time; and (b3) evaluating the plant condition data for the abnormal circumstances capable of causing the operation effecting event after the operation effecting event is detected in step (b1).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the plant is a nuclear reactor, wherein the operation effecting event includes a reactor scram and accidents occurring without causing a reactor scram, and wherein step (b) further includes the step of (b4) determining existence of other abnormal circumstances undetected in step (b1).
Claim 9
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of analyzing operating conditions in a plant, comprising the steps of: (a) providing alternative methods for obtaining plant condition data indicative of the operating conditions in the plant, the alternative methods including (a1) monitoring operational units in the plant to obtain current actual plant data as the plant condition data; (a2) inputting previously recorded actual plant data as the plant condition data; and (a3) receiving simulated plant data as the plant condition data; (b) selecting one of said monitoring of step (a1), said inputting of step (a2) and said receiving of step (a3) to obtain the plant condition data; and (c) evaluating the plant condition data, concurrently with said monitoring in step (a1), using an expert system rule base to determine probabilities of existence of abnormal circumstances.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of analyzing operating conditions in a plant, comprising the steps of: (a) providing alternative methods for obtaining plant condition data indicative of the operating conditions in the plant, the alternative methods including (a1) monitoring operational units in the plant to obtain current actual plant data as the plant condition data; (a2) inputting previously recorded actual plant data as the plant condition data; and (a3) receiving simulated plant data as the plant condition data; (b) selecting one of said monitoring of step (a1), said inputting of step (a2) and said receiving of step (a3) to obtain the plant condition data; and (c) evaluating the plant condition data, concurrently with said monitoring in step (a1), using an expert system rule base to determine probabilities of existence of abnormal circumstances.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 8, wherein step (c) comprises: (c1) chaining rules backward to determine possible causes of the operating conditions; and (c2) determining probable occurrences of events using forward chaining logic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method as recited in claim 8, wherein step (c) comprises: (c1) determining whether the plant condition data indicates that an operation effecting event has occurred; (c2) evaluating the plant condition data for the abnormal circumstances unlikely to cause the operation effecting event within a predetermined amount of time; and (c3) evaluating the plant condition data for the abnormal circumstances capable of causing the operation effecting event after the operation effecting event is detected in step (b1).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the plant is a nuclear reactor, wherein the operation effecting event includes a reactor scram and accidents occurring without causing a reactor scram, and wherein step (b) further includes the step of (b4) determining existence of other abnormal circumstances undetected in step (b1).
Claim 14
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for analyzing operating conditions in a plant, comprising: data input means for obtaining plant condition data indicative of the operating conditions in the plant by continuously monitoring operational units in the plant to obtain current actual plant data as the plant condition data; storage means for storing an expert system rule base; and evaluation means for evaluating, concurrently with the monitoring performed by said data input means, the plant condition data using the expert system rule base to determine probabilities of existence of abnormal conditions.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for analyzing operating conditions in a plant, comprising: data input means for obtaining plant condition data indicative of the operating conditions in the plant by continuously monitoring operational units in the plant to obtain current actual plant data as the plant condition data; storage means for storing an expert system rule base; and evaluation means for evaluating, concurrently with the monitoring performed by said data input means, the plant condition data using the expert system rule base to determine probabilities of existence of abnormal conditions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said evaluation means is controlled by the expert system rule base to periodically update the plant condition data using the current actual plant data obtained by said monitoring means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 13, further comprising: prior data means for storing previously recorded actual plant data; and simulation means for supplying simulated plant data, and wherein said data input means comprises means for obtaining the plant condition data from one of the current actual plant data, the previously recorded actual plant data and the simulated plant data under control of said evaluation means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-04-22 | 1994-10-22 | 1995-04-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-04-22 | 1998-10-22 | 1999-04-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-04-22 | 2002-10-22 | 2003-04-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |