Executive Summary
Westinghouse continues to evolve its proven digital I&C safety platforms under the Common Q+ (CQ+) modernization strategy—preserving licensing foundations while enabling phased upgrades aligned with long‑term operation needs. Advanced Logic System v2 (ALS v2) is an FPGA‑based safety platform that delivers deterministic logic execution, inherent architectural diversity, and predictable regulatory outcomes for safety‑critical applications.
As part of the CQ+ integrated safety system ecosystem, ALS v2 complements the Common Q (AC160) platform by providing a diverse, hardware‑based safety solution that mitigates software common‑cause failure and supports lifecycle extension without forcing disruptive rip‑and‑replace modernization.
Advanced Logic System v2 (ALS v2)
FPGA‑centric safety platform providing deterministic execution, inherent diversity, and regulatory confidence for nuclear safety systems.
Figure 1 – ALS V2 Chassis and Boards
Key Features & Capabilities
- FPGA‑centric deterministic design – Safety logic is executed entirely in hardware, eliminating software‑related vulnerabilities and ensuring predictable, repeatable system behavior.
- Modular hardware architecture — Core Logic Board, slave I/O boards, and a passive backplane support scalable system configurations for a wide range of safety applications.
- Inherent architectural diversity — Two levels of diversity are implemented through redundant logic execution and the use of multiple qualified FPGA technologies, mitigating software common‑cause failure.
- High I/O density in a compact footprint — Reduced chassis depth and optimized board layouts support both retrofit installations and new‑build projects.
- Comprehensive self‑diagnostics and overlap testing — Built‑in self‑tests, data integrity checks, and overlap diagnostics reduce reliance on manual surveillance testing.
- CQ+ interoperability — Qualified communications interfaces (AF100, HSL) enable integration with existing Common Q systems to support phased modernization and hybrid architectures.
New Features
- Deterministic FPGA safety with inherent diversity
- Predictable licensing using NRC‑approved platforms
- Built-in diagnostics reducing surveillance and O&M burden
Common Q+ Delivers Diversity, Licensing Confidence, and Long‑Term Operability
Customer Benefits
- Mitigates software common‑cause failure through inherent FPGA‑based architectural diversity.
- Provides predictable licensing outcomes using NRC‑approved topical reports and proven regulatory precedents.
- Reduces lifecycle and upgrade risk through modular, phased deployment strategies that avoid system replacement.
- Lowers operations and maintenance burden by leveraging extensive self‑diagnostics and surveillance reduction capabilities.
- Supports long‑term operability and modernization planning as part of the integrated Common Q+ safety platform strategy.
Why Westinghouse
- Largest global deployment of safety platforms
- Comprehensive lifecycle management commitment
- Proven global delivery track record across AP1000, APR1400, OPR1000 and multiple upgrade programs
- Single accountable partner for architecture, licensing, deployment, and long-term modernization
