System and apparatus for plant monitoring and control

Abstract

A system and apparatus for monitoring and control of the operation of various types of industrial plants, including power plants, nuclear power plants and plants including various types of mechanical, electrical and chemical machinery. The invention employs modular non-microprocessor based, non-software based digital hardware that enables communication between sensors and control logic and between the control logic and actuators that control a functional aspect of each plant.

1 . A generic logic module for monitoring and control of an industrial plant or power plant, said module comprising:
 a main circuit card that is configured to electrically attach to a backplane;   one or more input components that are electrically attached to said circuit card and that are each configured to receive a first sensor signal from a sensor component;   one or more output components that are electrically attached to said circuit card and that are each configured to transmit a second actuator signal to an activator component;   at least one logic solving component that is electrically attached to said circuit card and that is configured for processing said first sensor signal and configured for a determination of if and when to transmit said second actuator signal; and wherein   said logic solving component executes digital logic within electronic hardware that excludes microprocessor based hardware and software.   
     
     
         2 . The generic logic module of  claim 1  further including at least one field programmable gate array (FPGA) that is employed to execute at least some of said digital logic. 
     
     
         3 . The generic logic module of  claim 1  further including a first core field programmable gate array (FPGA) and a second application specific field programmable gate array (FPGA) and where said application specific FPGA includes digital logic that is configured for customization of said processing and determination actions. 
     
     
         4 . The generic logic module of  claim 3  wherein a first generic logic module (GLM) is configured to monitor and process a first type of plant operating status and wherein a second generic logic module (GLM) is configured to monitor and process said first type of plant operating status, and wherein said first GLM and said second GLM operate independently and in parallel with respect to each other while both said GLMs are electrically attached to one common backplane. 
     
     
         5 . The generic logic module of  claim 3  wherein a first generic logic module (GLM) is configured to process a first type of plant operating status and wherein a second generic logic module (GLM) is configured to process a second type of plant operating status, and wherein said first GLM and said second GLM operate independently and in parallel with respect to each other while each said GLM is separately electrically attached to a common backplane. 
     
     
         6 . The generic logic module of  claim 1  wherein a first generic logic module (GLM) and a second generic logic module (GLM) are each configured to communicate with each other while each said GLM is separately electrically attached to a common backplane. 
     
     
         7 . The generic logic module of  claim 1  wherein a first generic logic module (GLM) and a second generic logic module (GLM) are each configured to communicate to each other so that an output signal of said first GLM is transferred as an input signal to said second GLM while each said first and said second GLM is separately electrically attached to a common backplane. 
     
     
         8 . The generic logic module of  claim 1  wherein at least some of said input components are implemented as at least one mezzanine circuit card that is electrically attached to said main circuit card via at least one slot provided by said main circuit card. 
     
     
         9 . The generic logic module of  claim 1  wherein at least some of said output components are implemented as at least one mezzanine circuit card that is electrically attached to said main circuit card via at least one slot provided by said main circuit card. 
     
     
         10 . A backplane for electronic interface with a plurality of circuit cards, said backplane comprising:
 a plurality of device interface slots that are each configured to receive a circuit card;   at least one communication slot that is configured to receive a circuit card;   a plurality of communication paths that each span between two device interface slots; and wherein said device interface slots are grouped into one or more clusters of slots, each said cluster of slots including a plurality of slots; and wherein each circuit card residing within a first cluster of slots is provided a direct communication path to any other circuit card residing within said first cluster of slots; and wherein   at least one circuit card residing within said first cluster has a direct communication path to a circuit card residing within a communication slot; and wherein   at least one circuit card residing within said first cluster of slots has a direct communication path to a circuit card residing within a second cluster of slots; and wherein   at least one circuit card residing within said second cluster of slots has a direct communication path to a circuit card residing within said communication slot.   
     
     
         11 . The backplane of  claim 10  wherein each said device interface slot is configured to interface with a main circuit card of a generic logic module. 
     
     
         12 . The backplane of  claim 11  wherein a first generic logic module (GLM) is provided a communications path via said backplane to a first rear transition module (RTM), and a second generic logic module (GLM) is provided a communications path via said backplane to a second rear transition module (RTM), while each said GLM is electronically attached to a separate respective device interface slot. 
     
     
         13 . The backplane of  claim 12  wherein said first and second generic logic module (GLM) main circuit cards is each configured to interface with a plurality of sensors and a plurality of actuators via each of said first and second rear transition modules (RTM) respectively. 
     
     
         14 . The backplane of  claim 13  wherein each of a plurality of said generic logic module (GLM) main circuit cards operate independently of each other while electronically attached to said backplane. 
     
     
         15 . The backplane of  claim 13  wherein each of said first and second generic logic module (GLM) main circuit cards interface with at least one respective sensor and one respective actuator along a communications path through said backplane that is separate and independent from each other. 
     
     
         16 . The backplane of claim  31  wherein a plurality of said generic logic module (GLM) main circuit cards are each configured to communicate with any other GLM main circuit card that is electronically attached to said backplane. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for monitoring and control of a nuclear power plant, said apparatus comprising;
 a sensor configured to monitor an operational status of a power plant over time, and configured to communicate a sensor signal representing a value of said operational status over time;   an actuator that is configured to perform an action associated with said operational status of said power plant;   at least one generic logic module that is configured to perform a determination of an action associated with said operational status, said determination being dependent upon processing of said sensor signal received from said sensor, and configured to communicate an actuator signal to said actuator to perform said action; and wherein   said at least one generic logic module executes digital logic for said processing of said sensor signal, and wherein implementation of said digital logic excludes microprocessor based electronic hardware and excludes software.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said at least one generic logic module includes at least one field programmable gate array. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein a first generic logic module (GLM) and a second generic logic module (GLM) are each attached to backplane and where each of said first and second GLMs operate independently of each other and can communicate with said sensor and said actuator said backplane. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein each of a plurality of said generic logic module (GLM) main circuit cards interface with at least one respective sensor and one actuator along a communications path that is separate and independent from a communication path employed for interface between another GLM main circuit card and another sensor and actuator.