Prospective Techniques for Monitoring Degradation in Passive Systems, Structures, and Components for Nuclear Power Plant Long-Term Operation

摘要

This paper provides an overview of scoping studies performed at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) on assessing the viability of systems for real time and automated monitoring to assess the condition and the remaining useful life of passive components in nuclear power plants (NPPs). This analysis was reviewed in the context of four condition-monitoring aging management programs (AMPs) that were revised when NRC staff recently completed the analysis of over 50 AMPs for mechanical, structural, and electrical systems in the process of developing new license renewal guidance documents (LRGDs). Expert panel meetings were conducted in 2014-2015, charged to develop guidance such that, if followed, will provide the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reasonable assurance that the applicant will perform adequate aging management such that the systems, structures, and components (SSC) within the scope of license renewal will perform their intended functions during the second period of extended operation (PEO). Any proposed changes must be based on sound, technically defensible assessments. Although small scale experiments conducted to date suggest that using online prognostic (OLP) systems for monitoring critical SSCs are viable, new codes and regulatory guidelines may need to be developed before this technology can be widely implemented by the nuclear power industry.