JP7679333B2 - Nuclear power plant communication systems - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a communication system used in nuclear power plants.

Nuclear power plants are expected to transmit and store large volumes of data, such as the status and measurement values of installed equipment. However, current nuclear power plants mainly communicate using paging (public address system), telephones, and PHS, and do not have a communications environment capable of transmitting large volumes of data.

An example of a conventional communication system applicable to nuclear power plants is described in Patent Document 1. In the communication system described in Patent Document 1, a communication terminal transmits electromagnetic waves when it can receive electromagnetic waves from a base station, and does not transmit electromagnetic waves when it cannot receive electromagnetic waves from the base station, and the base station is installed at a position separated by a distance L from equipment that is easily affected by electromagnetic waves, and the distance L is configured to be greater than the sum of the electromagnetic wave reach L1 of the base station and the electromagnetic wave reach L2 of the communication terminal. With the above configuration, the communication system of Patent Document 1 ensures the convenience of wireless communication (e.g. high-speed wireless data communication) without affecting equipment that is easily affected by electromagnetic waves, even in locations where such equipment is present.

Patent document 2 also describes how, in a substation equipment protection and control system, some or all of the communication means are configured as wireless communication means, and how the power line that supplies power from the control power source is also used as an information transmission path.

JP 2020-078040 A JP 2008-295298 A

As mentioned above, nuclear power plants are required to transmit large amounts of data, but current nuclear power plants do not have a communication environment capable of transmitting large amounts of data. In general, large amounts of data can be transmitted using wired communication using communication lines (e.g., LAN cables) or wireless communication (e.g., wireless LAN).

Attempting to install new wired communications equipment at a nuclear power plant poses the problem that a large amount of communication lines and equipment would be required, and the work required to install them would be extensive, requiring a lot of cost and construction time. There may also be areas inside a nuclear power plant where it is not possible to install communication lines or equipment. On the other hand, attempting to install wireless communications equipment at a nuclear power plant poses the problem that wireless communications cannot be used easily, since there is equipment inside the nuclear power plant that is highly likely to be affected by noise from wireless communications.

For this reason, nuclear power plants need a communications system that can utilize existing facilities as much as possible and that can transmit large volumes of data without affecting the equipment at the nuclear power plant due to noise.

The object of the present invention is to provide a communication system that can utilize existing facilities at a nuclear power plant and can transmit large volumes of data without affecting the equipment at the nuclear power plant due to noise.

The communication system for a nuclear power plant according to the present invention is installed in the nuclear power plant and comprises a parent unit for power line communication and a child unit for the power line communication. The parent unit and the child unit are installed in an area where there is equipment that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication, and are connected to each other by being connected to the power line inside the nuclear power plant. In an area where the equipment is not present, the wireless communication equipment is installed.

The communication system for a nuclear power plant according to the present invention can also have the following configuration: The system is installed in the nuclear power plant and includes a parent unit for power line communication and a child unit for the power line communication. At least one of the parent unit and the child unit is installed in an area that is predetermined as an area adjacent to an area where there is equipment that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication, and is connected to the power line inside the nuclear power plant and is connected to each other. The wireless communication equipment is installed in an area where the equipment is not present.

The present invention provides a communication system that can utilize existing facilities at nuclear power plants and can transmit large volumes of data without affecting the equipment at the nuclear power plant with noise.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overview of power line communication (PLC). FIG. 1 illustrates an example of power lines at a nuclear power plant. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a PLC used in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a device connected to a slave unit in a PLC used in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for determining an area using PLC and an area using wireless communication in the communication system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication configuration used by the communication system according to the present embodiment.

Below, a communication system for a nuclear power plant according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in the drawings referred to in this specification, identical or corresponding components are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations of these components may be omitted.

The communication system for a nuclear power plant according to this embodiment is installed inside the nuclear power plant. The communication system according to this embodiment uses power-line communication (PLC), which uses power lines as communication circuits, in areas of the nuclear power plant where there is equipment that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication and where existing power lines can be used, and uses wireless communication in areas where there is no equipment that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication. The communication system according to this embodiment uses power line communication and wireless communication, but in areas where power line communication and wireless communication cannot be used, other communication means such as wired communication can also be used.

First, we will briefly explain power line communication (hereinafter referred to as "PLC"). PLC is a technology that uses power lines as communication cables by transmitting high-frequency communication signals over 100V or 200V power lines. By using PLC, it is possible to carry out large-volume data communication using existing power lines installed at nuclear power plants, without affecting the equipment at the nuclear power plant with noise.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overview of power line communication (PLC). PLC is composed of a 100V or 200V power line 10, a PLC master unit 20, and a PLC slave unit 30. The master unit 20 and slave unit 30 are used by being plugged into an outlet 40 of the power line 10, and transmit signals to each other using the power line 10. The master unit 20 can be connected to a server 51 or a network 52, for example, via a concentrator 50. The slave unit 30 can be connected to a terminal device 60, for example.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of a power line 10 in a nuclear power plant. In a nuclear power plant, the power line 10 is, for example, a 100V or 200V power line, and connects a power supply panel 11 (e.g., a distribution panel) that supplies 100V or 200V power, and a power supply panel 12 (e.g., a metal clad panel used for high-voltage circuits or a power center used for low-voltage circuits) that receives the power.

In this embodiment, the PLC is configured using such power lines 10 already installed at the nuclear power plant as communication lines.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a PLC used by the communication system according to this embodiment. The communication system according to this embodiment includes, as the PLC configuration, a 100V or 200V power line 10, a power supply source power supply panel 11, a power supply destination power supply panel 12, a PLC parent unit 20, and a PLC child unit 30.

The power line 10 is a power line inside the nuclear power plant, and is a cable for supplying power from a power source. The power line 10 is connected to a power supply panel 11 at the power source and a power supply panel 12 at the power destination. In this embodiment, the power line 10 can use a power line already installed at the nuclear power plant.

The power supply source power supply panel 11 is, for example, a 100V or 200V distribution panel, and supplies power to the power supply destination power supply panel 12.

The power supply panel 12 to which power is supplied is, for example, a metal clad, a power center, and a control panel that controls equipment and devices.

The PLC parent unit 20 is connected to the power line 10. In this embodiment, the PLC parent unit 20 is installed in the power supply panel 11 (e.g., a distribution panel) of the power supply source and connected to the power line 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the parent unit 20 is connected to a concentrator 50, and can be connected to equipment provided in the nuclear power plant, such as a server 51 or a network 52, via the concentrator 50. When the parent unit 20 is connected to the server 51 or network 52 of the nuclear power plant, data from the nuclear power plant can be transmitted by PLC. An existing PLC parent unit (master) can be used as the parent unit 20.

The PLC slave unit 30 is connected to the power line 10, and is connected to the parent unit 20 via the power line 10. In this embodiment, the PLC slave unit 30 is installed in a power supply panel 12 (e.g., a metal clad or power center) of the power supply destination, and is connected to the power line 10. The slave unit 30 can receive data about the nuclear power plant transmitted from the parent unit 20 via the power line 10, and transmit the received data to the terminal device 60 (Figure 1). An existing PLC slave unit (terminal) can be used as the slave unit 30.

Figure 4 shows an example of a device connected to a slave unit 30 in a PLC used in the communication system according to this embodiment.

The slave device 30 can be connected to the concentrator 50 by, for example, a communication line 61 (e.g., a LAN cable), and can be connected to the terminal device 60 by wireless communication or wired communication via the concentrator 50. When the slave device 30 connects to the terminal device 60 by wireless communication, the concentrator 50 connects to a wireless communication access point 63 by the communication line 61, and the access point 63 connects to the terminal device 60 by wireless communication. When the slave device 30 connects to the terminal device 60 by wired communication, the concentrator 50 connects to the terminal device 60 by the communication line 61.

In the PLC used in the communication system according to this embodiment, a temporary power supply panel can be used for at least one of the power supply panel 11 from which power is supplied and the power supply panel 12 from which power is supplied. A temporary power supply panel is a temporary power supply panel installed as a work power source for use at a construction site, for example.

For example, at a construction site, after concrete is poured for a building, radio waves are blocked by the concrete, making wireless communication such as with mobile phones impossible, and data communication may be impossible. Even at such a construction site, data communication can be made possible by installing both or one of the PLC parent unit 20 and the PLC child unit 30 on a temporary power supply panel that has been set up, and configuring a PLC using the power line 10 connected to the temporary power supply panel.

The following describes an example of the procedure for determining the areas that use PLC and the areas that use wireless communication in the communication system according to this embodiment.

Figure 5 is an example of a flowchart showing the procedure for determining an area that uses power line communication (PLC) and an area that uses wireless communication in the communication system according to this embodiment. The procedure shown in the flowchart in Figure 5 is performed, for example, by an operator who installs the communication system.

In S510, one area in the nuclear power plant is selected in which to install the communication system. Hereinafter, the selected area is referred to as the target area.

The following procedure determines whether to use PLC or wireless communication for the target area.

In S520, it is determined whether or not there is any equipment (nuclear power plant equipment) within the target area that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication. For example, an operator can determine whether or not the equipment is likely to be affected by noise due to wireless communication based on the magnitude of the current flowing through the circuit connected to the equipment. For example, if the current flowing through the circuit connected to the equipment is smaller than a predetermined arbitrary threshold, it can be determined that the equipment is likely to be affected by noise due to wireless communication. If there is any equipment within the target area that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication, the process proceeds to S530, and if there is no such equipment, the process proceeds to S580.

In S530, it is determined whether or not a device that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication is subject to radio interference in the frequency band used for wireless communication. For example, an operator can determine whether or not the device is subject to radio interference from wireless communication based on the results of a test conducted in advance. If the device is subject to radio interference from wireless communication, the process proceeds to S540, and if the device is not subject to radio interference from wireless communication, the process proceeds to S580.

In S540, it is determined whether or not there is a facility to which the power line 10 is connected within the target area. The facility to which the power line 10 is connected is, for example, the power supply panel 11 of the power supply source or the power supply panel 12 of the power supply destination. The facility to which the power line 10 is connected may also be the outlet 40 of the power line 10. If there is a facility to which the power line 10 is connected within the target area, proceed to S570, and if there is no such facility, proceed to S550.

In S550, it is determined whether or not there is equipment to which the power line 10 is connected in an area adjacent to the target area (e.g., the power supply panel 11 of the power source, the power supply panel 12 of the power destination, or the outlet 40). The nearby area is a predetermined area near the target area, such as a room or corridor adjacent to the target area. If there is equipment to which the power line 10 is connected in the nearby area, proceed to S570, and if there is no such equipment, proceed to S560.

In S560, it is determined whether or not it is possible to install the power line 10 in the target area or a nearby area. If it is possible to install the power line 10 in the target area or a nearby area, proceed to S570, and if it is not possible to install the power line 10, proceed to S590.

In S570, a PLC is used in the target area. The target area is an area where equipment (nuclear power plant equipment) that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication exists, and the PLC is used because the target area is an area where the existing power line 10 can be used, or because the nearby area is an area where the existing power line 10 can be used. At least one of the PLC parent unit 20 and child unit 30 is installed in the target area and the nearby area. The procedure in S570 for each of S540, S550, and S560 will be described below.

If in S540 there is equipment within the target area to which the power line 10 is connected (e.g., the power supply panel 11 of the power source, the power supply panel 12 of the power destination, or the outlet 40), a PLC parent unit 20 or child unit 30 is installed in this equipment.

If in S550 there is equipment to which the power line 10 is connected in an area adjacent to the target area, a PLC parent unit 20 or child unit 30 is installed in this equipment. A concentrator 50 installed in the target area or a nearby area is connected to the PLC child unit 30. A terminal device 60 installed in the target area is connected to the concentrator 50. To explain the nearby area again based on this procedure, a nearby area is an area located such that when communication equipment (at least one of the PLC child unit 30 and the concentrator 50) is installed in the nearby area, the communication equipment (at least one of the concentrator 50 and the terminal device 60) installed in the target area can be connected to the communication equipment in the nearby area by a communication line 61.

If it is possible to install a power line 10 in the target area in S560, the power line 10 is installed in the target area. One end of this power line 10 is present in the target area, and the other end is present outside the target area. An outlet 40 is provided at one end of the power line 10, and a PLC parent unit 20 or child unit 30 is installed in the outlet 40. The other end of the power line 10 is connected to any existing power line 10, or any power supply source power panel 11 connected to the existing power line 10, power supply destination power panel 12, or outlet 40.

If it is possible to install the power line 10 in the nearby area in S560, the power line 10 is installed in the nearby area. One end of this power line 10 is present in the nearby area, and the other end is present outside the nearby area. An outlet 40 is provided at one end of the power line 10, and a PLC parent unit 20 or child unit 30 is installed in the outlet 40. A concentrator 50 installed in the target area or a nearby area is connected to the PLC child unit 30. A terminal device 60 installed in the target area is connected to the concentrator 50. The other end of the power line 10 is connected to any existing power line 10, or any power supply source power panel 11 connected to the existing power line 10, power supply destination power panel 12, or outlet 40.

In S580, wireless communication is used in the target area. Wireless communication is used in the target area because it is an area where there is no equipment (nuclear power plant equipment) that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication. That is, wireless communication equipment, for example, access point 63, is installed in the target area. Access point 63 is connected to terminal device 60 by wireless communication. For wireless communication, it is preferable to use, for example, high-speed, large-capacity wireless communication so that large-volume data communication can be performed.

In S590, the communication means to be used in the target area are reviewed. Since PLC and wireless communication cannot be used in the target area, the use of other communication means, such as wired communication, is considered.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of wireless communication used by the communication system according to this embodiment. Conventional technologies such as wireless LAN can be used for wireless communication.

The communication system according to this embodiment includes a concentrator 50 and two access points 63 as wireless communication devices. The concentrator 50 can be connected to one access point 63 and to facilities provided in the nuclear power plant, such as a server 51 and a network 52. The other access point 63 can be connected to a terminal device 60 by wireless communication or wired communication. The access point 63 connected to the concentrator 50 can transmit nuclear power plant data transmitted from the concentrator 50 to the other access point 63. The access point 63 that receives the nuclear power plant data can transmit the received data to the terminal device 60.

In the PLC used in the communication system according to this embodiment, the PLC parent unit 20 and child unit 30 can be stored in a PLC storage panel, which is, for example, an iron container, and connected to the power line 10. The following describes the case where the parent unit 20 and child unit 30 are stored in a PLC storage panel.

When the parent unit 20 is installed in the power supply panel 11 that supplies power, or when the child unit 30 is installed in the power supply panel 12 that supplies power, it is preferable that the power supply panels 11 and 12 are capable of housing a PLC storage panel. If the power supply panels 11 and 12 are not capable of housing a PLC storage panel, it is determined whether or not a PLC storage panel can be installed in the location where the parent unit 20 and the child unit 30 are to be installed. If a PLC storage panel cannot be installed in the location where the parent unit 20 and the child unit 30 are to be installed, consider not using PLC and using other communication means such as wireless communication or wired communication.

As described above, in the communication system according to this embodiment, PLC is used in areas where the nuclear power plant equipment may be affected by noise due to wireless communication and where existing power lines can be used, and wireless communication is used in areas where the nuclear power plant equipment may not be affected by noise due to wireless communication. With this configuration, the communication system according to this embodiment can use existing equipment at the nuclear power plant to perform large-volume data communication without affecting the nuclear power plant equipment with noise. In this embodiment, existing equipment such as power line 10, power supply panel 11 of the power supply source, and power supply panel 12 of the power supply destination are used, so that when installing the communication system, an increase in the amount of communication lines and equipment used and an increase in the amount of work required to install these can be suppressed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and various modifications are possible. For example, the above-mentioned examples have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to an embodiment that includes all of the configurations described. It is also possible to replace part of the configuration of one example with the configuration of another example. It is also possible to add the configuration of another example to the configuration of one example. It is also possible to delete part of the configuration of each example, or to add or replace other configurations.

10...power line, 11...power supply panel of power source, 12...power supply panel of power destination, 20...PLC parent unit, 30...PLC child unit, 40...outlet, 50...concentrator, 51...server, 52...network, 60...terminal device, 61...communication line, 63...access point.

Claims (7)

Installed in nuclear power plants,
A parent unit of power line communication;
The power line communication slave unit;
Equipped with
The parent unit and the child unit are installed in an area where there is equipment that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication, and are connected to each other by being connected to a power line inside the nuclear power plant,
In an area where the device is not present, the wireless communication device is installed ,
The parent unit and the child unit are connected to the power line already installed in the nuclear power plant .
A communication system for a nuclear power plant, comprising: The power line is connected to a power supply panel of a power source,
The parent unit is installed in a power supply panel of the power supply source.
2. The nuclear power plant communication system according to claim 1. The power line is connected to a power supply panel of a power supply destination,
The child device is installed in a power supply panel of the power supply destination.
2. The nuclear power plant communication system according to claim 1. The parent machine is connected to a server or network provided at the nuclear power plant.
2. The nuclear power plant communication system according to claim 1. The power supply panel of the power supply source is a temporary power supply panel installed as a work power source.
3. The nuclear power plant communication system according to claim 2. The power supply panel of the power supply destination is a temporary power supply panel installed as a work power source,
4. The nuclear power plant communication system according to claim 3. Installed in nuclear power plants,
A parent unit of power line communication;
The power line communication slave unit;
Equipped with
At least one of the parent device and the child device is installed in a predetermined area adjacent to an area where there is an apparatus that may be affected by noise due to wireless communication, and is connected to an internal power line of the nuclear power plant and connected to each other,
In an area where the device is not present, the wireless communication device is installed ,
The parent unit and the child unit are connected to the power line already installed in the nuclear power plant .
A communication system for a nuclear power plant, comprising:

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