Dynamic Flowgraph Methodology For Reliability Modelling Of Networked Control Systems With Application To A Nuclear Based Hydrogen Production Plant

Dynamic Flowgraph Methodology for Reliability Modelling of Networked Control Systems: with Application to a Nuclear-based Hydrogen Production Plant

The use of communication networks in digital control systems introduces stability and reliability concerns. Standard reliability and safety assessment methods need further modification to accommodate the issue in the reliability assessment of networked control systems. In this thesis, it is demonstrated that the Dynamic Flowgraph Methodology (DFM) can be extended to model networked control systems. The modelling of the communication network influence on the performance of the control system is presented. The areas that can affect the reliability of the control system are identified using the methodology. The thesis also presents the application of the DFM to a nuclear-based thermochemical water splitting process for hydrogen production, the Copper-Chlorine (Cu-Cl) cycle. The architecture of a networked control system and configuration of instrumentation and control systems for the hydrogen production plant are proposed in the thesis.

Online Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Complex Marine Systems

This book proposes a new approach to dynamic and online risk assessment of automated and autonomous marine systems, taking into account different environmental and operational conditions. The book presents lessons learnt from dynamic positioning incidents and accidents, and discusses the challenges of risk assessment of complex systems. The book begins by introducing dynamic and online risk assessment, before presenting automated and autonomous marine systems, as well as numerous dynamic positioning incidents. It then discusses human interactions with technology and explores how to quantify human error. Dynamic probabilistic risk assessment and online risk assessment are both considered fully, including case studies with the application of assisting operators in decision making in emergency situations. Finally, areas for future research are suggested. This practical volume offers tools and methodologies to help operators make better decisions and improve the safety of automated and autonomous marine systems. It provides a guideline for researchers and practitioners to perform dynamic probabilistic and online risk assessment, which also should be applicable to other complex systems outside the marine and maritime domain, such as nuclear power plants, chemical processes, autonomous transport systems, and space shuttles.

International Aerospace Abstracts