Abstract: An automated system for on-line monitoring and coil diagnostics of rod position indicator (RPI) coils coil diagnostic, or RPI coil diagnostic system. The RPI coil diagnostic system performs coil diagnostics for a RPI system in a nuclear power plant. The RPI coil diagnostic system is in electrical communication with and monitors the outputs of the detector coils. The RPI coil diagnostic system measures characteristics of the detector coils that are indicative of the health of the detector coils and/or the connections between the detector coils and the RPI electronics.

Abstract: Systems and methods of monitoring operation of control rod mechanisms of nuclear power plants, including obtaining signal values from existing plant test points of at least one component of a rod movement mechanism during operation of the nuclear power plant, utilizing obtained signal values to determine a present impedance of the at least one component of the rod movement mechanism during the operation of the nuclear power plant, comparing the present impedance to a reference impedance, and indicating degradation of the rod control system if the present impedance deviates from the reference impedance by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: Non-intrusive error detection techniques for control and shutdown rod position in nuclear reactors, including methods of monitoring digital rod position indication (DRPI) signals of a DRPI system of a nuclear power plant. The methods include acquiring digital rod position signals at a point between a DRPI display cabinet and a DRPI data cabinet of the DRPI system, and processing the digital rod position signals to identify variations in a signal level and a signal timing of the digital rod position signals to determine rod position errors of the DRPI system.

Abstract: Systems and methods of monitoring a rod control system of a nuclear power plant, including calculating impedance of at least one coil of a rod movement mechanism non-intrusively while the system is operating, comparing a measured impedance to a reference impedance, and determining if the measured impedance deviates from the reference impedance value by a predetermined amount to indicate degradation of the rod control system.

Abstract: An automated system for on-line monitoring and coil diagnostics of rod position indicator (RPI) coils coil diagnostic, or RPI coil diagnostic system. The RPI coil diagnostic system performs coil diagnostics for a RPI system in a nuclear power plant. The RPI coil diagnostic system is in electrical communication with and monitors the outputs of the detector coils. The RPI coil diagnostic system measures characteristics of the detector coils that are indicative of the health of the detector coils and/or the connections between the detector coils and the RPI electronics.

Abstract: A temperature detector and method of measuring temperature to obtain temperature readings in environments, such as fluids and gasses, by measuring electrical characteristics of the temperature detector that are influenced by the temperature. The temperature detector can be arranged such that a plurality of measurements can be obtained to provide sufficient diversity and redundancy of the measurements for enhanced diagnostics to be performed, such as optimization for fast dynamic response, calibration stability, in-situ response time testability, and in-situ calibration testability.

Abstract: An automated system for on-line monitoring and coil diagnostics of rod position indicator (RPI) coils coil diagnostic, or RPI coil diagnostic system. The RPI coil diagnostic system performs coil diagnostics for a RPI system in a nuclear power plant. The RPI coil diagnostic system is in electrical communication with and monitors the outputs of the detector coils. The RPI coil diagnostic system measures characteristics of the detector coils that are indicative of the health of the detector coils and/or the connections between the detector coils and the RPI electronics.

Abstract: An automated system for on-line monitoring and coil diagnostics of rod position indicator (RPI) coils coil diagnostic, or RPI coil diagnostic system. The RPI coil diagnostic system performs coil diagnostics for a RPI system in a nuclear power plant. The RPI coil diagnostic system is in electrical communication with and monitors the outputs of the detector coils. The RPI coil diagnostic system measures characteristics of the detector coils that are indicative of the health of the detector coils and/or the connections between the detector coils and the RPI electronics.

Abstract: Systems and methods of monitoring a rod control system of a nuclear power plant, including calculating impedance of at least one coil of a rod movement mechanism non-intrusively while the system is operating, comparing a measured impedance to a reference impedance, and determining if the measured impedance deviates from the reference impedance value by a predetermined amount to indicate degradation of the rod control system.

Abstract: Non-intrusive error detection techniques for control and shutdown rod position in nuclear reactors, including methods of monitoring digital rod position indication (DRPI) signals of a DRPI system of a nuclear power plant. The methods include acquiring digital rod position signals at a point between a DRPI display cabinet and a DRPI data cabinet of the DRPI system, and processing the digital rod position signals to identify variations in a signal level and a signal timing of the digital rod position signals to determine rod position errors of the DRPI system.

Abstract: A diagnostic system to monitor digital rod position indication (DRPI) signals of a DRPI system of a nuclear power plant, including a digital diagnostic unit connected between a DRPI display cabinet and a DRPI data cabinet of the DRPI system to monitor digital rod position signals of the DRPI data cabinet. The digital rod position signals include digital rod address signals and digital rod position data signals such that the digital diagnostic unit detects signal level variation and signal timing variation of the digital rod address signals and the digital rod position data signals to determine rod position errors of the DRPI system.

Abstract: A pitot tube diagnostic system including a data acquisition unit to acquire an output signal of a pitot-static system, the output signal having a static component and a dynamic component, and a processing unit to monitor the dynamic component for one or more characteristics that deviate from one or more predetermined reference characteristics to indicate impairment of the pitot-static system.

Abstract: Systems and methods of monitoring a rod control system of a nuclear power plant, including calculating impedance of at least one coil of a rod movement mechanism non-intrusively while the system is operating, comparing a measured impedance to a reference impedance, and determining if the measured impedance deviates from the reference impedance value by a predetermined amount to indicate degradation of the rod control system.

Abstract: Systems and methods of monitoring rod control systems of nuclear power plants, including: measuring a particular signal applied to at least one coil of a rod movement mechanism at one or more predetermined times relative to an initial energizing of a mechanism coil; comparing the measured signal to a reference signal parameter, and determining if the measured signal deviates from the reference signal parameter by a predetermined amount to indicate degradation of the rod control system.

Abstract: Systems and methods of monitoring step movements of control rods of a nuclear power plant, including measuring output signals of a plurality of rod movement coils during a step movement sequence of one or more control rods, analyzing the output signals to determine a direction of the step movement sequence, and comparing one or more output signals to reference output sequence to verify that a step of the control rod has occurred.

Abstract: A high resolution digital rod position indication (high resolution DRPI) system having improved resolution. The high resolution DRPI system monitors the rod control cluster and provides an indication of the rod position with precision to a single step. In addition, the high resolution DRPI system is capable of producing a rod position output compatible with existing rod control systems. The improved resolution of the high resolution DRPI system allows the actual position of the control rods to be continuously monitored and eliminates the need for or reduces the frequency of offline re-initialization of the step counters.

Abstract: A temperature detector and method of measuring temperature to obtain temperature readings in environments, such as fluids and gasses, by measuring electrical characteristics of the temperature detector that are influenced by the temperature. The temperature detector can be arranged such that a plurality of measurements can be obtained to provide sufficient diversity and redundancy of the measurements for enhanced diagnostics to be performed, such as optimization for fast dynamic response, calibration stability, in-situ response time testability, and in-situ calibration testability.

Abstract: A high resolution digital rod position indication (high resolution DRPI) system having improved resolution. The high resolution DRPI system monitors the rod control cluster and provides an indication of the rod position with precision to a single step. In addition, the high resolution DRPI system is capable of producing a rod position output compatible with existing rod control systems. The improved resolution of the high resolution DRPI system allows the actual position of the control rods to be continuously monitored and eliminates the need for or reduces the frequency of offline re-initialization of the step counters.

Abstract: A diverse and redundant resistance temperature detector (“D&R RTD”) is provided. The D&R RTD is utilized in obtaining temperature readings in environments, such as fluids and gasses, by measuring electrical characteristics of the D&R RTD that are influenced by the temperature. Furthermore, the D&R RTD's are arranged such that a plurality of measurements can be obtained, which provides sufficient diversity and redundancy of the measurements for enhanced diagnostics to be performed, such as optimization for fast dynamic response, calibration stability, in-situ response time testability, and in-situ calibration testability.

Abstract: Systems and methods of monitoring position information of a control rod in a nuclear reactor, including detecting an output signal induced by movement of a control rod with respect to at least one detection coil of the control rod, the output signal having identifiable characteristics representative of a plurality of positions of the control rod within the at least one detection coil, and processing the identifiable characteristics to derive the positions of the control rod within the at least one detection coil.