Overview

The electronic systems of class 1 (according to DIN EN 61513 (VDE 0491-2)) used in Nuclear Power Plants (NPP) which are required in emergency situations, need to be fully validated and qualified before being used in operation. In traditional systems that are computer-based, a separation can be drawn between the hardware and software portions. The hardware is mainly designed with standardized components having pre-defined electronic functions such as microprocessors, timers or network controllers, whereas software is used to coordinate the different parts of the hardware and to implement the application functions. Nowadays, I&C designers may build application functions directly in one integrated circuit using devices such as FPGAs or similar technologies. The function of such an integrated circuit is not defined by the supplier of the physical component or micro-electronic technology but by the I&C designer. The specific integrated circuits addressed by this standard are based on pre-developed micro-electronic resources, developed within an I&C project and with Hardware Description Languages (HDL) and related tools used to implement the requirements in a proper assembly of the pre-developed micro-electronic resources. Therefore these circuits are named "HDL-Programmed Devices", (HPD). The HDL statements which describe a HPD can include the instantiation of Pre-Developed Blocks (PDB) which are typically provided as libraries, macros, or Intellectual Property cores. HPDs can be effective solutions to implement functions required by an I&C project. However, the verification and validation may be limited by issues such as high number of internal paths and limited observability, if the HPD has not been developed with verifiability in mind. In order to achieve the reliability required for safety I&C systems, the development of HPDs shall comply with strict process and technical requirements such as those provided by this standard, including the specification of requirements, the selection of blank integrated circuits and PDBs, the design and implementation, the verification, and the procedures for operation and maintenance. The responsible committee is DKE/UK 967.1 "Elektro- und Leittechnik für kerntechnische Anlagen" ("Instrumentation and control of nuclear facilities") of the DKE (German Commission for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies) at DIN and VDE.

Document: references other documents

Responsible national committee

DKE/UK 967.1 - Elektro- und Leittechnik für kerntechnische Anlagen