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Intelligent Alarm Analysis for Fault Diagnosis and Management in Nuclear Power Plants

Author

Listed:
  • Wei Li

    (College of Nuclear Science and Technology, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China
    Science and Technology on Reactor System Design Technology Laboratory, Nuclear Power Institute of China, Chengdu 610123, China)

  • Kunze Yang

    (Department of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA)

  • Ming Yang

    (College of Nuclear Science and Technology, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China
    College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China)

  • Jipu Wang

    (College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China)

  • Sijuan Chen

    (College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China)

Abstract

The safety and efficiency of nuclear power plants (NPPs) are heavily reliant on the timely and accurate decisions made by operators in the control room, particularly during fault scenarios. Traditional alarm systems often fall short in identifying the root causes of faults, especially in complex, multi-fault situations. This paper presents an advanced fault diagnosis method based on the multilevel flow model (MFM), which addresses the limitations of conventional alarm systems by linking alarms to system goals and functions. The MFM framework organizes the system hierarchically, aiding in the clear understanding of causal relationships and the underlying causes of faults. Additionally, this paper proposes a method that combines the longest causal path and root cause analysis, addressing both single- and multiple-fault diagnosis needs. This approach improves diagnostic efficiency and comprehensiveness, providing operators with a systematic basis for analysis and decision-making in multi-alarm scenarios.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Li & Kunze Yang & Ming Yang & Jipu Wang & Sijuan Chen, 2025. "Intelligent Alarm Analysis for Fault Diagnosis and Management in Nuclear Power Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-22, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:7:p:1730-:d:1624451
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Park, Jinkyun & Jung, Wondea, 2015. "A systematic framework to investigate the coverage of abnormal operating procedures in nuclear power plants," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 21-30.
    2. Awwal Mohammed Arigi & Gayoung Park & Jonghyun Kim, 2021. "An Approach to Analyze Diagnosis Errors in Advanced Main Control Room Operations Using the Cause-Based Decision Tree Method," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-21, June.
    3. Xingyu Xiao & Jingang Liang & Jiejuan Tong & Haitao Wang, 2024. "Emergency Decision Support Techniques for Nuclear Power Plants: Current State, Challenges, and Future Trends," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-35, May.
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