Comparison between control networks used in modern Supervision and Control Systems of research reactors

The supervision and control system (SCS) of research reactors integrates a number of units that categorized into three processing levels: field, control and supervision. These processing levels are interconnected by communication networks to achieve data transfer between different units. These networks are industrial control networks and hence the control data are required to be delivered in real-time. In this paper, the performance of the interconnection network of the SCS is analyzed, considering the ARCnet as the used network. The network performance is first analyzed using a mathematical methodology and then investigated by simulation, using the network simulator NS-2, to justify the analytical results. Also the performance of the SCS is presented, considering the switched Ethernet as the used protocol and a comparison between the two networks is done to determine the best control network.