US 12,136,333 B2
Emergency preparedness alert notification system for nuclear power plants
Kurt E. Ellmers, Fort Pierce, FL (US); James B. Patterson, Port Saint Lucie, FL (US); Wryan Tyler Cross, Stuart, FL (US); Jow H. Ortiz, Coral Springs, FL (US); and Michael E. Powers, Stuart, FL (US)
Assigned to FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY, Juno Beach, FL (US)
Filed by Florida Power & Light Company, Juno Beach, FL (US)
Filed on Dec. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/068,884.
Prior Publication US 2024/0203235 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
Int. Cl. G08B 29/02 (2006.01)
CPC G08B 29/02 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising a multiplicity of remote siren equipment test systems each remote siren equipment test system being communicatively coupled with a respective one of a multiplicity of rotating sirens distributed over diverse wide geographic regions, and each remote siren equipment test system being communicatively coupled with a remotely located central siren control system (CSCS) that is remotely located from each of the rotating sirens in a nuclear power plant emergency preparedness alert notification system, each of the remote siren equipment test systems comprising:
a processor;
memory;
a network interface device communicatively coupled with at least one network for communicating messages between each of the multiplicity of remote siren equipment test systems and the CSCS; and
at least one sensor operatively coupled with at least one component of the respective one rotating siren for automatically monitoring operation thereof and outputting sensor data representative thereof; and
the processor, communicatively coupled with the memory, the network interface device, and the at least one sensor, in response to executing computer instructions, performing operations comprising:
sending an actuation signal to the at least one component of the respective one rotating siren, based on receiving from the CSCS via the at least one network a start siren test command;
monitoring output sensor data from the at least one sensor, the output sensor data indicating rotational motion of the at least one component;
analyzing the output sensor data;
determining that the at least one component is one of affirmatively operational or negatively operational to cause the at least one component to rotate, based on the analyzing of the output sensor data;
storing in the memory a rotating siren status message, adding selective address information to the rotating siren status message making it destined for reception by the CSCS in response to being transmitted in the at least one network;
adding in the rotating siren status message an indication of operational status of the at least one component, being one of affirmatively operational or negatively operational, based on the determining; and
transmitting, with the network interface device, the rotating siren status message in the at least one network destined for reception by the CSCS, the rotating siren status message including the indication of operational status of the at least one component.