Use of a Relational Database to Manage Information from Thermalhydraulic Experiments

Abstract

Several thermalhydraulic experimental test programs are being performed under the direction of the CANDU Owners Group, including experiments performed in a full-elevation, multiple channel representation of a CANDU primary heat transport system (RD-14M). A very large amount of experimental data and information is generated by this program. This paper describes the use of a relational database, in the PC-DOS environment, using the FoxPro database management system, to store and facilitate access to information related to the RD-14M test facility. Several databases have been set up to collectively describe the experimental facility configuration, the loop instrumentation history, the configuration for individual tests, the test conditions, and the referencing of documentation produced from the experimental program. The database is employed in conjunction with data display software to assist in the analysis of the experimental data.