Reliability Analysis Of Nuclear Power Plant Protective Systems.

Abstract

Data and analytical requirements for a reliability monitoring program in nuclear safety have been identified. A data management system is defined incorporating a method for equipment and event classification and a plan for data collection. Equipment classification is accomplished by use of a 9-digit generic code which identifies equipment type, environment, and operating load. The event classification provides coded identification of failure mode, effect, and cause, as well as an index of accumulated experience. The data collection plan uses a two-step recording process to enable use of existing plant practices and operating staffs. The first step entails in-plant recording of failure or repair data and operating and test data. The second step requires transferral of operating and failure data to coded input for a centralized data bank. Subsequently, data bank processing will convert and report accumulating experience as failure rate and repair data. The accuracy and flexibility of the Automatic Reliability Mathematical Model (ARMM) technique has been increased for evaluation of the reliability of engineered safety systems. A computer program. Systems Analysis by Fault Tree Evaluation (SAFTE-1), has been developed to implement the fault tree concept. Applications of both techniques to sample problems using estimated or available reliability data demonstrate that they provide useful reliability estimates. Results of these applications show that the quality of these estimates is determined more by the analyst's skill than the limitations of the techniques. It is revealed that the questioning and documentation process required in preparation for quantitative reliability estimates is of value in identifying potential trouble spots and suggesting procedural or design changes which can eliminate or reduce the adverse effects of component failures on safety. It is concluded that reliability analysis can contribute to a more quantitative, systems-oriented measure of safety; techniques adequate for safety analysis of nuclear power plants now exist; the data necessary to support these analyses can be obtained through the suggested data management scheme; find the resulting reliability monitoring program can be executed without need for expanding nuclear power plant operating staffs. It is recommended that the reliability monitoring program be instituted in operating nuclear power plants at the earliest possible date to enable the accumulation of data of quality appropriate to reliability analysis of engineered safety systems.

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