Research on a Certainty Data Link Layer Protocol for the Communication Network in Nuclear Safety DCS

With the development of digital instrument and control (I&C) technology for nuclear power plants in recent decades, communication networks have become an important part of safety digital control systems (DCS). The certainty of the protocol is the main difference between nuclear safety communication and other industrial communication networks. A particular safety communication protocol which is designed and applied in data link layer (DLL) in communication network in safety DCS is proposed in this research. The certainty for safety communication protocols is discussed, followed by the factors, such as cumulative, discrete, and parallel characteristics, influencing the certainty of protocol been analyzed. After the analysis of the typical topology and model of the safety network, the solution to proposing a certainty safety communication protocol implemented in DLL is demonstrated. Finally, the proposed safety communication verified though simulation and formal verification technique, which indicates that the proposed protocol could ensure the certainty of the safety communications.