First Workshop on The Applications of FPGAs in Nuclear Power Plants 8 10 October 200 EdF, R

1
First Workshop on The Applications of FPGAs in
Nuclear Power Plants8 10 October 200 EdF,
RD, Chatou, France

• Interest in FPGA/ASIC technologyfor IC systems
  in NPP

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Evolution of the IC systems up to now

• Dedicated hardware-based
• ? assembling (wiring or printed circuits)
  elementary logic or analog components
• ? basic components easily understandablefailure
  modes, effects and criticality are
  assessable,testable and maintainable
• ? adding functions needs adding hardware ?
  redesign
• Software-based
• ? writing software programs supported by modular
  and standardized hardware
• ? can pack as many functions as needed
• ? complex components (microprocessor) and system
  software layer are difficult to qualify and
  maintain in the long term (commercial lifetime)

3
Programmable logic hardware a solution for next
IC generation ?

• Dedicated hardware sustainability problems
• ? cost of designing and maintaining dedicated
  hardware becomes prohibitive (ageing, basic
  components availability from the supply chains,
  new functional needs)
• Software-based trouble with undue complexity ?
• ? ever increasing performance of integrated
  circuits (Moores law)
• ? quicker obsolescence ? technology is driven by
  other high-tech, mass-market products
• ? unnecessary functions need to be addressed in
  the safety case
• ? Develop application functions by writing
  hardware configuration descriptions to be
  implemented in programmable logic hardware
  components such as Field Programmable Gate Array
  (FPGA)

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Programmable logic hardware potential use in
IC systems for NPP

• The Utility point of view - Refurbishment
  scenarios
• dedicated hardware-based electronic boards ? pack
  existing designs in simplified hardware,
  implementing the same function
• software-based programmed logic electronic
  boards? implement in FPGA the Intellectual
  Property core of popular 8 or 16 bits obsolete
  microprocessors to execute the qualified existing
  software
• The Motorola MC6800 microprocessor
• and its prototype  clone  based on an
  6800 IP developed by EDF RD and assessed
  by DSS
• The IC supplier point of view
• Provide design solutions which do not stick to
  the microprocessor market

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Programmable logic hardware Expected properties

• Reliability of integrated circuits for design and
  manufacturing processes of the IC components
• Long term availability based on a limited set of
  components (family) that can be used to implement
  a large variety of electronic functions
• Ability to move of functions to technology  du
  jour  when necessary, with limited effort
  (portability thanks to the use of standard
  languages such as Verilog or VHDL )
• Current capacity (number of cells) can
  accommodate all required functions as well as
  robust design architectures
• Only the necessary functions have to be
  implemented in the hardware component
• Ability to be used in Safety applications in the
  nuclear field