The Application of AFAL Methodology in Substantiation of Instrument Calibration Intervals Extension in Nuclear Power Plant
This is an Introduction about the AFAL methodology of study the instrument drift characteristics, and the application of AFAL in substantiation of instrument calibration interval extension in nuclear power plant. AFAL methodology main aspects include collecting historical instrument calibration data of nuclear power plant, calculating statistics values such as: sample number, mean, median, standard deviation, then work out the drift tolerance interval of the instrument. Based on analysis of these statistical calculated values, will understand the instrument drift performance. This article also discusses technical issues associated with the application of AFAL and how to solve them, such as: grouping instrument, sample sizes, outliers detecting and processing, high-confidence deduction etc. Through the study of the instrument drift characteristics, evaluate the performance of instrument, determine the calibration interval can prolong properly. The application practices of AFAL methodology show, extending instrument calibration interval can support nuclear power plant to achieve the goal of prolonging the fuel cycle, under the nuclear safety precondition. The nuclear power plant can improve the capacity factor of the unit and economic performance.