Development of a PLC-Based Kartini Reactor Operation Data Acquisition System

The development of data acquisition system for operation of the Kartini reactor was carried out by using a programable-logic controller (PLC) and based on the recommendation of an expert team of the International Atomic Energy Agency which justifies that the previous data acquisition system of the reactor operation has been considered obsolete. This research purpose is to follow up the recommendation by using a recent technology of PLC as the basis of the system. The parameter acquisition method was done by acquiring the analogue and digital voltage signals by the PLC and processing them into values accordingly. Analogue parameters: linear power, logarithmic power percent, period, and three control bars, Digital parameters: trigger trip signals. Parameter values are visually displayed using LabVIEW. The test method was comparing the obtained values to the current monitoring subsystem. Test results: linear power error is 0.09%; period error is 0.8%; and error of the three control rods is below 1%. All digital signal test results successfully show appropriate trip conditions when active. The conclusion of this study is successful in making a design of the Kartini Reactor process parameter acquisition system with small relative errors to the existing system.