Development of Graphical User Interface (GUI) and control system for channel inspection in PHWR

Periodic In Service Inspection (ISI) of Pressure Tubes of Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) is a regulatory requirement to check healthiness of reactor primary component. Pressure tubes are susceptible to various degradation mechanisms during reactor operation, which are reflected by various parameters. These multiple parameters are monitored using inspection tools developed for the purpose. Monitoring of multiple parameters in minimum time with minimum exposure to operating personnel is vital for capacity factor of the plant. Design of Delivery Equipment for inspection tools is governed by plant requirements. A remote operated machine named Advanced Drive Machine (ADM) is designed for delivering inspection tool into the coolant channel of 540 MWe PHWRs meeting above design goals. A Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) based control system with PC based Graphical User Interface (GUI) was developed mainly to provide sequential control of each drive, check permissive, incorporate safety logic and operation interlocks. PLC communicates with motor drives through digital communication bus. Sensors located at different component of ADM are interfaced with controller for monitoring operation parameters and generating safety interlocks Control system has the capability to align machine with channel without any human presence. This control system communicates with servo motor through profibus and with stepper motor through modbus. A suitable GUI has been developed for smooth operation of machine. This GUI displays all the data of sensors associated with machine