MWFTR

EECE499: Special Topics: Computers and Nuclear Energy 2011

* Development of this course was sponsored by the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission through the grant #: NRC-10-27-1123.

Catalog Data: This course focuses on the basic understanding of the challenge in computer control of safety-critical systems including nuclear power plants, guiding students through the topics of computer related accidents in safety-critical systems; computers and risks and challenges of computer-controlled systems; software project failures; software reliability; (5) defense in depth and diversity; (6) diversity training kit; and (7) diversity kit lab. In addition, students are exposed to nuclear energy related subjects such as reactors, nuclear safety, licensing process, power generation, and severe accident analysis, taught by nuclear experts.

Coordinator: Dr. Charles Kim, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Class Schedule:

• Week 1 (August 25): Introduction to the new class (Dr. Kim): Assignment 1 - Computer related accident

• Week 2 (September 1): (a) Computers and Risks (Dr. Kim), and (b) NRC Overview and Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Concepts (speakers: Deborah Jackson and Dr. Pamela Longmire, both of NRC): Assignment 2: Forgetting how it used to be done - Reading Material from To Engineer is Human by Henry Petroski.

LEFT: Deborah Jackson opens the guest lecture series with an NRC overview. MIDDLE: Dr. Pamela longmire lectures on the reactor concepts. RIGHT: Two speakers closes the session with handout and material distribution.

 

• Week 3 (September 8): (a) Computer (H/W and S/W) caused accidents (Dr. Kim), and (b) Digital Instrumentation and Control (speaker: Dr. Deirdre Spaulding-Yeoman): Assignment 3: Myths of Correctness - Reading Material from Sachertorte Algorithm by John Shore.

Three students present their findings in the computer caused accident assignment (from left, Isaac Collins, Kelvin Goodman, and Collins Oluka)

 

• Week 4 (September 15): (a) Software Myths (Dr. Kim), and (b) Security and Safeguards of NPP (speakers: Edward Robinson, Kirk Foggie, and Dr. Garmon West, all of NRC).

• Week 5 (September 22): (a) Software Reliability in Safety-Critical Systems (Dr. Keiller), and (b) Nuclear Criticality and Nuclear Engineering (speakers: Tamara Powell and Nateron Jordan, both of NRC): Assignment 4: Top 10 Software project failures.

Alix Martin has a few questions.

• Week 6 (September 29): (a) Defense in Depth (Dr. Kim) and (b) Power Uprates (speaker: Deborah Jackson of NRC):

• Week 7 (October 6): (a)Diversity for Safety-Critical System Applications(Dr. Kim)and (b) Licensing Processes 1 & 2 (Speakers: Tanya Hood and William Burton, both of NRC).

• Week 8 (October 13): (a)Hardware Diversity Kit (Dr. Kim) and (b) Power Generation (Speaker: Ronaldo Jenkins of NRC): Assignment 5: Diversity Practice in everyday life.

• Week 9 (October 20): (a) IEC Standards of Safety-Critical Systems (Dr. Kim) and (b) Cybersecurity (Speakers: Dr. Deirdre Spaulding-Yeoman).

Dr. Deirdre Spaulding-Yeoman lectures on cybersecurity in NPP.

• Week 10 (October 27): (a) Software Reliability II (Dr. Keiller) and (b) Severe Accident Analysis (Dr. Pamela Longmire)

LEFT: Dr. Peter Keiller lectures on software reliability in the backdrop of the accident analysis chart of Dr. Longmire. MIDDLE: Dr. Pamela Longmire presents severe accident analysis. RIGHT: Dr. Longmire answers William Reid's question with the chart.

• Week 11 (November 3): Tour of the Ops Center (arranged by Deborah Jackson) followed by a lecture on Fukushima by Dr. Stephanie Bush-Goddard and Carl Thurston of NRC.Assignment 6: Safety Critical Computer Systems - Reading Material written by William Dun.

• Week 12 (November 10): (a) Safety-Critical Computer Systems (Dr. Kim) and (b) New modular reactors (Tanya Ford and Janelle Jessie of NRC)

• Week 13 (November 17): (a) Hardware Diversity kit (Lab 1) (Dr. Kim): Assignment 7: Comprehensive

LEFT: Jennifer Okafor presents on Safety-Critical Computer System Design. RIGHT: Ravi Jaglal demonstrates the Hardware Diversity Kit.

• Week 14 (November 24): No Class - Thanksgiving Holiday

• Week 15 (December 1): Assignment 7 Due and Survey

APPRECIATION CEREMONY:

The NRC Guest speakers are recognized in the December 15, 2011 in the appreciation ceremony. Due to schedule conflict, many cannot come to the ceremony.

 

......Dr. Stephanie Bush-Goddard ......................................Tanya Hood ...................................................Deborah Jackson.............

.................Ronaldo Jenkins ....................................................Tanya Ford.........................................Natreon Jordan................

 

 

...................Tamara Powell....................................Dr. Deirdre Spaulding-Yeoman ................... ..........Dr. Garmon West ..............

Thank you!