Method and apparatus for monitoring the operation of nuclear power plants

Purpose: To rapidly find abnormal points in a nuclear power plant by dividing the plant into sub-blocks and applying to each of the sub-blocks laws of preservation of energy, mass and momentum in a broad meaning. Method: A power plant is divided into sub-blocks for which the input and output can be monitored within necessary accuracy. The measuring amounts and the critical conditions for the output from each of the sub-blocks are collected in a data collecting device and then transferred to a data processing device. The data processing device compares the output from each of the blocks determined by the quantity externally given uni-meaningly such as from the plant operation setting points and the model with the measured output amount corresponding to the output of the intended sub-block by using a formulated model to each of the sub-blocks and applying the laws of preservation of energy, mass and momentum in a broad meaning. The comparison results are indicated by a display unit. (Furukawa, Y.)