Integrated Monitoring and Predictive Maintenance System for the Reactor Experiment for Neutrino and Exotics (RENE)

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The scientific objective of the Reactor Experiment for Neutrino and Exotics (RENE) is to investigate sterile neutrino oscillations, particularly within the $\Delta m_{41}^{2} \sim 2$ eV$^{2}$ region, through precision measurements of antineutrinos emitted by the Hanbit nuclear power plant in Yeonggwang, Korea. To support stable, long-term data acquisition for this experiment, an integrated monitoring system was developed. This system was designed for real-time monitoring of key physical parameters, including photomultiplier tube high voltage, temperature, liquid scintillator level, ambient magnetic field, radon concentration, laboratory temperature, humidity, volatile organic compounds, and thermal anomalies. Because the experiment is performed in a limited and restricted underground space called the tendon gallery, unlike existing conventional commercial-based systems, a key feature of the RENE monitoring system is its asynchronous multithreaded architecture based on an open-source framework and the producer-consumer design pattern. In particular, this architecture completely decouples hardware communication and database operations from the main graphical user interface thread. Consequently, the responsiveness of the user interface is ensured, and overall system stability is maximized, even during the processing of large data volumes or in case of emergency. The reliability and robustness of the RENE monitoring system have been demonstrated through successful long-term operation. In this paper, the design philosophy, hardware configuration, software architecture, implementation of key features, performance evaluation, and future development plans of the RENE monitoring system are described in detail.

Source: Progress of Theoretical and Experimental Physics

DOI: 10.1093/ptep/ptag009

Institutions: Chonnam National University, Soongsil University, Kyungpook National University, Dongshin University, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Kyung Hee University, Sejong University, Seoul National University, Sungkyunkwan University

Language: English

Topic: Neutrino Physics Research

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $979

Funders: National Research Foundation of Korea, Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea

Awards: G110575139, G1690283946, G1812184697, G1853761824, G244371914, G2988765918, G3222215030, G5668860443, G781629705

OpenAlex ID: W7128678013