New Technology Initiative

摘要

Over the last two and half years, Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant and Xcel Energy Corporate management teams have promoted investigation of unique technologies to drive innovation at Monticello. This strategy resulted in industry first simulation and training for operations, emergency planning, and engineering personnel as well as driving cost savings. 1) A Severe Accident Computer Model utilizing engineering-grade severe accident code integrated with advanced thermal hydraulic simulator models was incorporated into the simulator. The industry-leading severe accident model is used to provide simulator training on Beyond Design Basis accidents such as those experienced at Fukushima Daiichi units. The model replicates conditions experienced from onset through vessel breach, including concrete core inter-action. Licensed Operator and Emergency Planning training have been given on the Severe Accident Mitigation Guidelines (SAMGs) allowing trainees to evaluate plant conditions at various stages of a severe accident, determine appropriate actions, and take actions in a control room environment to attempt to maximize the affective experience. 2) Focusing on optimizing technology, a new application of existing technology was used to simulate radiation monitors in place of using expensive radiation monitor hardware. The simulator monitors needed replacement due to age-related degradation and replacement of plant radiation monitors. The cost of replacing these monitors with traditional like-for-like replacements was cost prohibitive. The new solution provided the required fidelity at less than one tenth of the original cost. 3) The Monticello Simulator has an ongoing simulator improvement plan to include the most technologically advanced modeling, including completed advanced thermal hydraulic models for site buildings, primary containment and balance of plant models. Monticello is leveraging the thoroughness of these models to improve flooding modeling by including dynamic failures of critical components. This high level of realism is achieved by integrating the advanced thermal hydraulic models, comprehensive simulation of all external flooding strategies, and modeling Probabilistic Risk Assessment inputs for equipment failure levels and modes. 4) Monticello's Training Department also uses technology to maximize training value for the modern student. A three dimensional, photo-realistic graphic was developed using a video game development engine to reveal the physical status of the simulator reactor vessel, nuclear fuel and containment that shows real-time status of these components. The graphic allowed operators and emergency planning personnel to better understand accident sequence and parameter response associated with a severe accident scenario. Because of the tremendous training value, a similar flooding model graphics package was pursued to allow explanation of the plant's response during flooding events including the site status. This feature is key to understanding logistical impacts of broad area events. Monticello shares the benefits and lessons learned from these projects across industry. The Monticello simulator has been benchmarked by domestic and international utilities, including representatives from four continents focusing on testing, training implementation, and lessons learned. By leveraging unique technology solutions and re-application of existing technology, the Monticello simulator has been used for industry's first emergency planning and operations training applications. These solutions also allowed significant cost savings in improving simulator fidelity and man-hour savings associated with training development.