Software

The integrated environment InSiDE

The integrated environment for the simulator development InSiDE operates under OS Windows (Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP) and allows to create simulators (both multi-functional and full-scope) for facilities with different complicity.

The integrated environment InSiDE allows to:

Automate the simulator development, what accelerates the development, simplifies it and reduces the risk of mistakes made by the designer during routine operations.

• Involve specialists who are not experts in the programming languages. Using CAD systems based upon the principle of visual programming, the designer can focus on problems of the simulated process physics or the principles of technology systems operation without dealing with the matter of programming.
• Introduce changes in the simulator by the Customer’s specialists without participation of the designer.
  

The main characteristics of InSiDE are:

• Graphic interface of the simulator development.
• Multi-user environment of development.
• CAD application for visual programming.
• Debugging and monitoring of the simulator operation.
• Automated integration of the different modules of the simulator.
• Possibility of distributed calculations (cluster simulators).
  

The integrated environment InSiDE uses the real time database InterBase. The simulator database is used for storage of the simulator data and provision of the multi-user access to it.

To describe the simulated equipment state and its parameters in the simulator database, special data classes were developed. For example, the data class Sensors is used for the measurement channels, the data class Actuators is used for different types of actuators, etc. Using these classes, user fills out the database with the lists of the simulated equipment and its parameters.To provide the graphic interface with the simulator database, the utility DataBase Editor included into InSiDE is used.

All simulated process systems and equipment are divided into separate subsystems (models).

Further on, for every subsystem its own calculation module - individual executed (exe) file is created. Information on all subsystems is stored in the simulator database. To provide the graphic interface with the simulator database to edit this information, the utility ModelList Editor included into InSiDE is used. The data exchange between simulator modules is realized on the basis of the TCP/IP protocol.

Each simulator module consists of the two parts:

- the mathematical model of the simulated system;
- functions for the data exchange with the simulator server.

In the simulator server the common data area exists for the data exchange between the different simulator modules. This common data area is created during the simulator server initialization on the basis of the data classes created previously in the simulator database.

The programming modules of the simulator are developed using a Computer Aided Design (CAD) system included into InSiDE. The CAD tool is used to develop the simulator modeling modules, which simulate the electric power and I&C systems of the simulated facility. At present time this CAD tool is upgraded for the thermo-hydraulic networks simulation. Designing of modeling modules in the CAD tool of InSiDE is performed by the so-called “visual programming” method when the designer puts the graphic images of the process diagram basic elements by the “mouse” manipulator on the work field of the CAD window, connects them with each other and sets their internal parameters. Then the designed model of the process system is tested both in the stand-alone mode and connected with the simulator. The designer can inspect any parameter state of the model during these tests.

After debugging of the simulated system model, its source code (C++ language) and the project file (Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0) are created automatically; then it could be compiled to a new executed module of the simulator.

The basic elements used for designing of the simulated system schemes are unified in the libraries of elements. The Object Editor utility allows to: set the outward appearance of the objects; set the calculation functions of the objects (C++ language); determine graphically the input/output variables and parameters of the objects; compile the libraries of the objects to integrate them in the CAD tool.

Besides the library of the standard logic elements used to simulate the logic of I&C, a special library of the logic elements of TELEPERM XP has been developed for designing of the simulator for a gas-steam power plants operating under TELEPERM XP control system.

MCPCS TELEPERM XP process control system is developed by Siemens Company and is widely used in the nuclear and conventional power industry. Using this library, the I&C systems models of the gas-steam power plant simulator have been designed and the corresponding programming modules have been built.

For the simulation of the unique equipment (reactor core, turbine etc), model designer fills the correspondence table for this model in the simulator database. It contains the interface variables names of the designed model and correspondent data fields in the simulator common data area.

It contains the interface variables names of the designed model and correspondent data fields in the simulator common data area. Then, model's source code (C++ language) template and a project file (Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0) are created automatically, based on the correspondence table data for further compilation in to simulator module. The source code of the module includes all necessary functions for connection with the server. The designer, in his turn, should create the specific model calculation functions to simulate specified parameters behavior and use the interface variables defined previously in the correspondence table.

The Human-Machine Interface

The HMI simulator modules are also individual executed (exe) files that may be run on the operator or instructor workstations.

To create the HMI images, another CAD tool (Dyner) included into InSiDE system is used. HMI images are developed using the graphic animated objects, which realize the state depended animation and control functions of the simulated equipment and controls (pump, valve, sensors etc.). The static graphic elements are used to draw background and static part of the HMI image.

To create new graphic elements or edit ones already created, the editor of graphic elements is used. This editor allows to: determine the outward appearance of the element; set the element animation depending on the state of the simulated object; create the libraries of elements. The results of HMI CAD system operation are the libraries of graphic animated objects and a set of text files containing the description of the HMI images in a special format used for the simulator HMI modules initialization.

Configure the simulator

The use of module client/server simulator architecture based on the TCP/IP protocol allows to run the simulator in different configurations depending on the necessary simulation scope and the used computers.

The Configuration utility of InSiDE is used to create different simulator configurations and to launch the simulator. This utility allows to define the modules, computers and processors to be used in the simulator operation. InSiDE includes also a set of tools for debugging and analysis of the simulator operation including utilities for: the simulator common data field inspection; visualization of the simulator events log; after training analysis (debriefing); activation of the simulation results.

The integrated environment for the simulator development InSiDE is all-in-one system, which allows considerably accelerate and correspondingly reduce the price of simulators development.

In the process of works under Contracts, SSL trains the Customer’s specialists in maintenance of the supplied simulators software and hardware. The training course consists mainly of practical training based upon the manuals for development, operation and maintenance. The goal of the course is to give to the Customer’s specialists as more as possible information on the simulator and the InSiDE environment in order they could modify it independently, if necessary.