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High intensity D–T fusion neutron generator (HINEG), which is designed to be operated in continuous and pulsed modes, provides a significant experimental platform for numerous nuclear technology researches. In this paper, the personnel radiation safety interlock system for HINEG is designed with the objective of protecting personnel from radiation hazards and assisting operators in ensuring a safe HINEG operation. This safety interlock system monitors all the safety devices and controls permission signals for every subsystem of HINEG in accordance with safety interlocking constraints. A Safety PLC is employed as the central controller, which adopts time redundancy and difference comparison instead of structure redundancy. A high-speed redundancy optical fiber ring network configured with 2 SCALANCE X104-2 industrial switches is developed, this construction is able to accomplish network reconfiguration within a few milliseconds when a communication failure occurs. A friendly visual operation interface, which runs on an IPC and communicates with Safety PLC by PROFIsafe protocol, is developed for operators to manage the devices intuitively.

The 2.45 GHz electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS) is one of the key components of high intensity D–T fusion neutron generator, which provides a significant experimental platform for nuclear technology researches. A description of the control system for this 2.45 GHz ECRIS is presented in this paper. Distributed control technology configured with IPC and SIEMENS PLC is adopted in the control system on account of all the devices have diverse locations on the 350 kV high voltage platform. A high-speed redundancy optical fiber ring network with two SCALANCE industrial switches is constructed to accomplish network communication. Integral separation PID control algorithm is adopted to decrease the overshoots and long fluctuations generated by integral terms in the controllers. For all the devices and controllers are operated under the high voltages, strong electromagnetic fields and nuclear radiation conditions, numerous anti-interference measures are taken in this control system. Moreover, a multi-objective multi-parameter safety interlock system is constructed to break off beam production to protect operators and devices from high voltage and radiation hazards in emergency circumstances.

In view of the risk of collision with humans or equipment arising from a lack of protection in the operation process of combined support and anchor equipment on the heading face, this paper designs a safety interlock system for combined support and anchor equipment. Firstly, a mathematical model of hydraulic power system control and a valve control system based on feedforward–feedback optimization were established according to the power demand of the combined support and anchor equipment. Secondly, according to the reliability indexes of the safety interlock system, corresponding sensor, logic control and execution modules were designed. Ultrasonic sensor groups were arranged at the key positions of the combined support and anchor equipment to capture the position information in real time when the equipment was moving. Thus, the pump-valve hydraulic system was controlled through closed-loop feedback. The experimental results show that the safety interlock system of the combined support and anchor equipment can adjust the revolving speed of the permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) in real time according to the distance from the obstacle, so as to control the pump outlet flow, and then perform interlocking safety control of the hydraulic cylinder’s movement speed. The system can effectively prevent damage to the surrounding equipment or personnel arising from equipment malfunction.

The Indian Railway network is the world’s fourth largest, transporting millions of people every day. One of the most difficult challenges for travelers is crossing the overhead bridges or subways to reach the right platform. To make this experience more comfortable we have developed the automatic system termed Railway Platform Crossing Automatic Bridge (RPCAB) to connect two opposite platforms. Here, the fabricated metal frame bridge is moved using a pair of double acting hydraulically/ pneumatically actuated telescopic cylinders. After the train pulls out of the station, the bridge connects to the other side of the platform, allowing passengers to walk on the bridge to cross the tracks. The position sensors, alarms, audio/visual indicators, and actuators are all in sync with the train traffic signaling system and the master controller, a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). To prevent any mishaps from happening, a comprehensive safety interlock system has been implemented, including position sensors, safety barricades, emergency alarms, and an audio-visual information system. The proposed mechanical bridge facilitates the passage for the passengers who are physically impaired, with heavy luggage, pregnant women, and the elderly persons to cross the platform. Additionally, it controls the congestion of passengers when the train has left the station. The proposed system is simulated using PLC simulator for testing, validation, and analysis of the system’s behavior in a simulated environment. The simulation results presented in this paper show how efficient and reliable the proposed design is. Prior to constructing a working prototype in real time, it is essential to put the system through a virtual environment. The results support the viability of applying the proposed design in real-world settings, which will improve both safety and efficiency at railway platform crossings.

Simulator is a tool or means that is needed in learning to replace the role of a real system or equipment. The simulator providing a solution for repetitive operation of equipment. This is not possible on the actual equipment such as in a high voltage transformer of electrical distribution system. The purpose of this study was to design a simulator of a 150/20 kV transformer bay interlock system using a PLC as a control device and computer monitor as a display (human machine interface). In this simulator there are 15 states to describe the interlock system between the circuit breaker and the disconnecting switch both on the 150 kV side and on the 20 kV side. Interlock system design using state diagram method. PLC Ladder diagrams are written with CX-programmer software and HMI programming using CX-Supervisor software. The validity test of the simulator is done by using event validity techniques. The design results show that the overall interlock system runs as a whole with the percentage of validity is 100 percent or with a validity index 1, so it can be concluded that the simulator of the 150/20 kV transformer bay interlock system can be used as a learning tool to replace the real system.

This article presents a reliability analysis method and a series of case studies of different architectures for interlock systems of large and complex research infrastructures. Interlock systems play a crucial role in the protection of different types of machines, including present and future particle accelerators and fusion experiments. These infrastructures require multibillion Euros investments and accidents could cause irreparable damage. Protection systems are needed to prevent damage from an unintended release of large amounts of stored energy or power. Interlock systems define the signal exchange between the sensors that detect non-nominal conditions and the actuators that bring the machine into a safe state through a protection shutdown. The design of machine protection systems in general and interlock systems, in particular, is caught between the desired machine safety and machine availability, and the requirements vary between different infrastructures. For some infrastructures, interlock systems must be designed to strictly avoid unintentional shutdowns, as these can have a significant impact on the lifetime of vital equipment or their primary operational purpose. For others, unintentional shutdowns due to a failure in the interlock system are acceptable as long as their number is small compared to protection shutdowns caused by failures of other equipment, in order to maximize their scientific output. The case studies presented in the article compare different interlock architectures based on the probability of specific failure scenarios occurring.

The safety system is defined in BS/EN764-7(2002) (Safety systems for unfired pressure equipment) European Standard which is equipped with pressure releasing means (e.g, safety valve, reliefe valve, rapture disk). However, this safety system is not adequately functional as a safety system because the pressure releasing means cannot ensure the security for safe-side failures or degradation characteristics. In view of this, this paper presentation an interlock system applicable to pneumatic driving systems based on the safety (confirmation) principle. This system in the Safety-related parts (system) without giving (harm) the effects of hazardous side of error to stop the run of the load by the power source shut off from the possibility of hazardous side of error, it is practical there is no contradiction in ISO12100, ISO13849 international standard. The interlock system discussion about the suitability of the safety system defined in BS/EN764-7. As a result, the consideration for ensuring the reliability in “Safety of the control” by BS/EN764-7 is requested by adopting the safety system of the interlock system.

In 2016 the luminosity reach of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) was increased by reducing theβ-function in the main collision points below the design value toβ*=40cm. This was possible thanks to a specially matched betatron phase advance between the extraction kickers and some sensitive machine elements that would otherwise risk to be damaged by miskicked beam in case of an asynchronous beam dump. This method imposed the demand to guarantee the phase advance always stays within an acceptable tolerance, including operational actions like tune adjustments. Therefore, a new interlock system on the quadrupole magnet currents was put in place to safeguard the stability of the phase advance. This paper describes the technical implementation of this power-converter interlock (PcInterlock) and the strategies used to derive appropriated tolerances to allow sufficient protection without risking false beam dump triggers. The experience with the new PcInterlock settings in 2016-18 are discussed.

The 600m long linear accelerator of the European Spallation Source ERIC, transporting a 5MWatt proton beam from the source to the target station, is currently under construction in Lund (Sweden) and plans to start neutron production in 2020. In order to protect the equipment from damage and to take the appropriate actions required to minimise recovery time, a dedicated set of Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) based interlock systems is being designed. The target protection system represents one part of the machine protection in the overall ESS protection architecture. Its main purpose is to provide dependable and, if possible, predictive interlocking for the target station and the associated subsystems (i.e. monolith, wheel, moderator-reflector system, beam extraction systems and cooling systems) in case of malfunctioning, by taking the appropriate actions to bring the machine into a safe state. This goal implies non-Boolean complex computations in real-time with critical constraints. To achieve this goal, an initial framework based on the last generation of PLCs and networking components (cluster solution) is presented. This framework is based on Siemens Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) portal with Step 7 programming environment, PROFINET fieldbus networking and intelligent devices (I-devices).

Originally, the typical particle accelerators as well as their associated beam transport equipment were designed for particle and nuclear physics research and applications in isotope production. In the past few decades, such accelerators and related equipment have also been applied for medical use. This can be in the original physics laboratory environment, but for the past 20 years also in hospital-based or purely clinical environments for particle therapy. The most important specific requirements of accelerators for radiation therapy with protons or ions will be discussed. The focus will be on accelerator design, operational, and formal aspects. We will discuss the special requirements to reach a high reliability for patient treatments as well as an accurate delivery of the dose at the correct position in the patient using modern techniques like pencil beam scanning. It will be shown that the technical requirements, safety aspects, and required reliability of the accelerated beam differ substantially from those in a nuclear physics laboratory. It will be shown that this difference has significant implications on the safety and interlock systems. The operation of such a medical facility should be possible by nonaccelerator specialists at different operating sites (treatment rooms). The organization and role of the control and interlock systems can be considered as being the most crucially important issue, and therefore a special, dedicated design is absolutely necessary in a facility providing particle therapy.