Process hypercube comparison for signal validation

A signal validation technique for nuclear power plants which uses a process hypercube comparison (PHC) has been developed. The hypercube is merely a multidimensional joint histogram of the process conditions. The hypercube is created offline during a learning phase using operational plant data. In the event that a newly observed plant state does not match with those in the learned hypercube, the PHC algorithm performs signal validation by progressively hypothesizing that one or more signals is in error. This assumption is then either substantiated or denied. In the case where many signals are found to be in error, a conclusion that the process conditions are abnormal is reached. The global database contained within the hypercube provides a best estimate of the process conditions in the event a signal is deemed failed. The hypercube signal validation methodology was tested using operational data from a commercial pressurized water reactor and the Experimental Breeder Reactor II