Through cooperation with CANDU designer SNC-Lavalin, or directly with power generation utilities, L3Harris has been supplying CANDU plant computer systems - known as Digital Control Computer (DCC) systems – for nuclear power plants since 1970. DCC systems are used to monitor and control all the major reactor and power plant functions. In response to demand we have continued to upgrade the technology over the last five decades.
A typical system consists of two DCCs. DCC X and DCC Y are redundant on-line controllers, which control the nuclear reactor. Each controller uses a computer with a purpose-built process input/output (I/O) system and peripherals housed in cabinets, and use additional freestanding peripherals such as keyboards, printers and monitors. A contact scanner is used to scan relay contacts, limit switches, or other similar types of contacts. The scanner is connected to both DCC X and DCC Y, but communicates with only the annunciating DCC.
The DCC system architecture is centered on two technologies – the central processing unit (CPU) and the I/O system. The CPU technology has evolved from the initial Varian 70 family of microcomputers to the current Second Source Computers Inc. (SSCI) CPU, first the SSCI-125 generation and now the SSCI-890. The I/O system is based on the Datapath 50 data acquisition and the control system technology is designed and manufactured to monitor and control CANDU reactor units. Every consideration has been taken into account throughout all stages of design and construction to ensure that the system operates with maximum efficiency and reliability.
The SSCI-890 computer features a single board CPU, a cache board and 2MB memory modules. The CPU and memory communicate over a special system connector plane that eliminates inter-connect cables. The SSCI-890 CPU includes mapped main memory. A map on the CPU board can perform efficient memory management for up to sixteen million bytes of main memory with full memory protection. The memory modules combine 2MB of metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) memory with error-correcting code (ECC) on a single plug-in module.
Along with the SSCI-based CPU architecture, we have supplied and supported the PDP-11/70 DCC CPU architecture. This implementation, in service for more than fifteen years at Ontario Power Generation’s Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, was the subject of an innovative L3Harris replacement through a t, form, and function hardware emulation.
In addition to the continuous enhancement of CPU performance of the DCCs, we have updated and re-designed several peripheral equipment and interface controllers related to the data storage, printing, and the data acquisition interface with PCs. The new Bulk Storage Memory Unit increases the total memory size to 128MB and provides for an extended area of housing software applications and historical data storage buffers. The new technology of network printing – using fast laser printers – required an adaptation of printer controllers for alarm messaging and hardcopy functions.
Committed to continuous improvement of the DCC design, we have successfully emulated the functionality of the Main Control Room Display System with the use of our VME-based technology. This emulation solution has resulted in a complete replacement of Ramtek equipment while maintaining the same DCC software developed by utilities and used on the original display system hardware.
The same VME-based technology was the baseline of replacing the Contact Scanner equipment and presently this implementation is in operation in both units at the Qinshan Phase III Nuclear Power Project (Zhejiang, China) and on Unit 2 at the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant (Cernavoda, Romania).
Our goal is to ensure that COG and CANDU plant operators have a solid, reliable supplier on whom they can rely for their maintenance and support services. L3Harris has been supporting the DCC for 50 years and is firmly committed to not only continue, but to enhance our support for the product line for the next 50 years.
DCC AND PERIPHERALS UPGRADES & REPLACEMENT
OTHER CANDU PLANT I&C REPLACEMENTS
SIMULATOR OVERHAULS
DARLINGTON SDS2
In support of the Darlington refurbishment program and OPG’s overall effort to design and develop a replacement for SDS2, L3Harris carried out the hardware design, integration and testing of prototype systems, including qualification testing, followed by the delivery of production units for the SDS2 trip computers and the SDS1 and SDS2 display/test computers.
BRUCE DCC TEST BENCH
L3Harris successfully designed and delivered an SSCI-890 test bench comprising a CPU that is identical to those in the plant computers. The test bench is connected to the plant’s operator training simulator (or equivalent) to support development, testing and validation of new software programs for the plant DCC and DCC software changes.
BRUCE A & B DCC ALARM RECORDER
To enhance the plant process operator Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition system and to modernize the storage and searching capabilities of the extensive information provided by the Digital Control Computes at Bruce A & B, L3Harris designed and developed a new alarm recorder system, which collects, streams and transfers the process data and alarms generated during plant operation. The alarm recorder system benefits from a highly performant interface controller (PCI-based Parallel Data Link Controller designed by L3Harris) connected to the DCCs.
EC6 ENGINEERING SIMULATOR
L3Harris provided SNC-Lavalin with a full real-time simulation of a CANDU 6 plant operating on a PC/Windows platform powered by the industry-leading Orchid® simulation environment. The simulator is equipped with interactive soft panels representing the MCR and a dual DCC emulation. The interactive soft panels are enabled on multiple video display units to represent the Enhanced CANDU 6 (EC6) MCR. The emulated DCC is used as a baseline to iteratively change out control programs and logic with new PES control software modeled and verified in our Orchid® Modeling Environment. In addition, training and support were provided to ensure that all of SNC-Lavalin’s objectives were met.
