Analysis of the Computing Methods of Structural Reliability of Process Flow Diagrams for the Power Generating Units of Nuclear Power Plants

The European Network for Inspection Qualification (ENIQ) was established in 1992 in response to increasing recognition of the importance of qualification of non-destructive inspection systems used in in-service inspection programmes for nuclear power plants. Driven by European Nuclear utilities and managed by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), ENIQ represents a network in which the available resources and expertise can be pooled at European level. ENIQ has recognized the importance of addressing, at European level, the issue of optimizing inspection strategies on the basis of risk by establishing a Task Group on Risk (TGR). Membership of TGR is drawn from European nuclear utilities and consultants. ENIQ TGR is focused on Risk-Informed In-Service Inspection (RI-ISI) methodologies. Its work is directed towards harmonisation in the field of codes, standards and best practice for RI-ISI methodologies, with the objective of increasing the safety of European nuclear power plants. In March 2005 TGR published a European Framework Document for RI-ISI. This publication provides guidance for both developing new RI-ISI approaches and using or adapting established approaches to a European environment, taking into account utility-specific characteristics and national regulatory requirements. More recently, ENIQ TGR has been working at producing more detailed recommended practices and discussion documents on several RI-ISI related issues, such as the role of ISI within the philosophy of defence-in-depth, the verification and validation of structural reliability models (SRMs) to be used in RI-ISI programmes, the use of expert panels and the applicability of RI-ISI to the reactor pressure vessel. Work is ongoing to develop a discussion document on updating of RI-ISI programmes, and new initiatives were launched to study topics such as what magnitude of risk reduction is reasonable to achieve through ISI, and how to set inspection targets, following the selection of ISI sites. In addition, TGR has been active in initiating international projects linked closely to its work, such as the JRC-OECD/NEA co-ordinated RI-ISI benchmark exercise (RISMET), and the project on the relation between inspection qualification and RI-ISI. This paper describes the key activities and publications of TGR to date.

Download Full-text

Role of Prognostics in Support of Integrated Risk-based Engineering in Nuclear Power Plant Safety

International Journal of Prognostics and Health Management ◽

10.36001/ijphm.2012.v3i1.1362 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Author(s):

P.V. Varde ◽

Michael G. Pecht

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Power ◽

Power Plants ◽

Nuclear Power Plants ◽

Structural Reliability ◽

Health Management ◽

Performance Criteria ◽

Management Approach ◽

Prognostics And Health Management ◽

Integrated Risk

There is a growing trend in applying a prognostics and health management approach to engineering systems in general and space and aviation systems in particular. This paper reviews the role of prognostics and health management approach in support of integrated risk-based applications to nuclear power plants, like risk-based in-service inspection, technical specification optimization, maintenance optimization, etc. The review involves a survey of the state-of-art technologies in prognostics and health management and an exploration of its role in support of integrated risk-based engineering and how the technology can be adopted to realize enhanced safety and operational performance. An integrated risk-based engineering framework for nuclear power plants has been proposed, where probabilistic risk assessment plays the role of identification, prioritization and optimization of systems, structures, and components, while deterministic assessment is performed using a prognostics and health management approach. Keeping in view the requirements of structural reliability assessment, the paper also proposes essential features of a ‘Mechanics-of-Failure’ approach in support of integrated risk-based engineering. The performance criteria used in prognostics and health management has been adopted to meet requirements of risk-based applications.

Download Full-text