While typically-collected diameter data contains information for detecting some garter springs, many garter springs may not be detected without processing the diameter data. Responsively, a method for processing the diameter data to detect the garter springs has been developed. In particular, the processing involves fitting of the diameter data to a shape, determining residual errors and using the residual errors to locate garter springs.

A reactor control interface includes a home screen video display unit (VDU) displaying blocks representing functional components of a nuclear power plant and connecting arrows that connect blocks that are providing the current heat sinking path for the nuclear power plant. Directions of the connecting arrows represent the direction of heat flow along the current heat sinking path. If the current heat flow path of the plant changes, the connecting arrows are updated accordingly. Additional VDUs include: a mimic VDU displaying a mimic of a plant component; a procedures VDU displaying a stored procedure executable by the plant; a multi-trend VDU trending various plant data; and an alarms VDU displaying side-by-side alarms registries sorted by time and priority respectively. If a VDU fails, the displays are shifted to free up one VDU to present the display of the failed VDU, and one display is shifted to an additional VDU.

A reactor control interface includes a home screen video display unit (VDU) displaying blocks representing functional components of a nuclear power plant and connecting arrows that connect blocks that are providing the current heat sinking path for the nuclear power plant. Directions of the connecting arrows represent the direction of heat flow along the current heat sinking path. If the current heat flow path of the plant changes, the connecting arrows are updated accordingly. Additional VDUs include: a mimic VDU displaying a mimic of a plant component; a procedures VDU displaying a stored procedure executable by the plant; a multi-trend VDU trending various plant data; and an alarms VDU displaying side-by-side alarms registries sorted by time and priority respectively. If a VDU fails, the displays are shifted to free up one VDU to present the display of the failed VDU, and one display is shifted to an additional VDU.

A nuclear reactor instrumentation system monitors a nuclear power system that includes a reactor core within a reactor vessel and one or more sensors for monitoring parameters of the nuclear power system. The nuclear reactor instrumentation system includes a computer having a processor and configured to be powered by a normal power source and a backup power source; a wireless transmitter operable under the control of the processor; and a memory coupled to the processor and containing stored programming instructions. The stored programming instructions are executable by the processor to cause the processor to receive data from the sensors; identify a loss of normal power from the normal power source; and in response to identifying the loss of normal power, cause the wireless transmitter to transmit the received data.

A nuclear reactor instrumentation system monitors a nuclear power system that includes a reactor core within a reactor vessel and one or more sensors for monitoring parameters of the nuclear power system. The nuclear reactor instrumentation system includes a computer having a processor and configured to be powered by a normal power source and a backup power source; a wireless transmitter operable under the control of the processor; and a memory coupled to the processor and containing stored programming instructions. The stored programming instructions are executable by the processor to cause the processor to receive data from the sensors; identify a loss of normal power from the normal power source; and in response to identifying the loss of normal power, cause the wireless transmitter to transmit the received data.

A communication connection apparatus controls connection of a communication line between a first and second communication devices comprising: a first connection port for the first communication device, including a first transmission unit through which a signal from the first communication device passes and a first reception unit through which a signal for the first communication device passes; a second connection port for the second communication device, including a second transmission unit through which a signal from the second communication device passes and a second reception unit through which a signal for the second communication device passes; a first connection line connecting the first transmission unit and the second reception unit; and a simulated-signal input unit that inputs a first signal to the first reception unit. On the first signal being input to the first reception unit, the first reception unit and the second transmission unit are physically disconnected.

A communication connection apparatus controls connection of a communication line between a first and second communication devices comprising: a first connection port for the first communication device, including a first transmission unit through which a signal from the first communication device passes and a first reception unit through which a signal for the first communication device passes; a second connection port for the second communication device, including a second transmission unit through which a signal from the second communication device passes and a second reception unit through which a signal for the second communication device passes; a first connection line connecting the first transmission unit and the second reception unit; and a simulated-signal input unit that inputs a first signal to the first reception unit. On the first signal being input to the first reception unit, the first reception unit and the second transmission unit are physically disconnected.

An inspection robot for inspecting a nuclear reactor that includes a hull and an on-board control mechanism that controls the operation of the inspection robot. The on-board control mechanism controls one or more sensors used to inspect one or more structures in the nuclear reactor as well as the movement by the inspection robot. A gimbal mechanism rotates the inspection robot hull by shifting the center-of-mass so that gravity and buoyancy forces generate a moment to rotate the hull in a desired direction. A camera is coupled to the gimbal mechanism for providing visual display of the one or more structures in the nuclear reactor. The camera is allowed to rotate about an axis using the gimbal mechanism. The inspection robot communicates its findings with respect to the inspection tasks using the wireless communication link.

A diagnostic method executed by a processor included in an information processing device, the information processing device including an acceleration sensor and a plurality of devices and having a function of executing a diagnosis of each of the plurality of devices, the diagnostic method includes storing threshold information that is set regarding each of the plurality of devices and includes a plurality of directions and thresholds of acceleration components each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of directions; receiving acceleration information from the acceleration sensor; calculating acceleration components each corresponding to the respective one of the plurality of directions by using the acceleration information when shock is detected from the acceleration information; extracting one or more devices having a possibility of a breakdown from the plurality of devices by comparing the acceleration components and the threshold information; and executing a diagnosis regarding the one or more devices.

Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and methods related to assets and asset operating conditions. In particular, examples involve defining and executing predictive models for outputting health metrics that estimate the operating health of an asset or a part thereof, analyzing health metrics to determine variables that are associated with high health metrics, and modifying the handling of abnormal-condition indicators in accordance with a prediction of a likely response to such abnormal-condition indicators, among other examples.