Nuclear qualification of electrical equipment: challenges for the Brazilian industry

João Manoel Losada Moreira

doi:10.15392/bjrs.v8i3A.1581

Authors

João Manoel Losada Moreira Programa de Pós-graduação em Energia Universidade Federal do ABC http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6283-0622

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15392/bjrs.v8i3A.1581

Keywords:

qualifying, electric equipment, nuclear power

Abstract

The nuclear industry requires specific safety qualification of electrical equipment in order to assure that they perform their function without experiencing common-cause failures. Electrical equipment used in the nuclear industry have been qualified according to IEEE 323 and IEC 60780 standards and their derivatives until 2016. Currently these two organizations consolidated their requirements and unified them in a common document, the IEC/IEEE 60780-323 standard. It defines the different methods of qualification, a qualification program plan and the documentation to be delivered demonstrating successful qualification of electrical equipment to be used in nuclear installations. Based on this standard, we present an approach focusing on the qualification by type-testing. The article details the necessary tests to be performed for this method, the equipment necessary to be used in the type-testing method and the documentation expected to be delivered by the supplier. To implement this qualification approach and obtain such capacity, it is necessary to perform large expenditures in equipment and in the improvement of the workforce. On the other hand, this capacity gives the companies knowledge, experience and opens new market opportunities in other areas, such as the naval and oil industries. With such expertise, Brazilian companies may become active suppliers in the world industry of electrical equipment.

Views: 292
PDF Downloads: 376

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

International Atomic Energy Agency, Convention on Nuclear Safety, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria (1994).

International Atomic Energy Agency, Safety Report Series No. 3, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria (1998).

International Atomic Energy Agency, Basic Safety Principles for Nuclear Power Plants 75-INSAG-3 Rev. 1 INSAG-12, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria (1999).

International Atomic Energy Agency, General Design Safety Principles for Nuclear Power Plants: A Safety Guide, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria (1986).

International Electrotechnical Commission and Institution of Electric and Electronic Engineering, IEC/IEEE 60780-323: Nuclear Facilities – Electrical Equipment Important to Safety – Qualification, International Electrotechnical Commission, Geneva, Switzerland (2016).

Association Française pour les Règles de Conception et de Construction des Materiels des Chaudières Électronucleaires (AFCEN), RCC-E: Design and Construction Rules for Electrical Equipment of PWR Nuclear Islands, AFCEN, Courbevoie, France (2016).

General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of People’s Republic of China, GB/T 36044-2018: Qualification Procedure of Electrical Equipment Important to Safety for Nuclear Power Plant, China National Standardization Administration, Shenzen, China (2018).

International Electrotechnical Commission, IEC 61513: Nuclear Power Plants – Instrumentation and Control Important to Safety – General Requirements for Systems, International Electrotechnical Commission, Geneva, Switzerland (2011).

Institution of Electric and Electronic Engineering, IEEE 603-2018: IEEE Standard Criteria for Safety Systems for Nuclear Power Generating Stations, Institution of Electric and Electronic Engineering, Piscataway, United States of America (2018).

G. Johnson, Comparison of IEC and IEEE Standards for Computer-Based Control Systems Important to Safety, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, United States of America (2001).

K. Spang, G. Stahl. Qualification of Electrical Components in Nuclear Power Plants, Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate, Stockholm, Sweden (2002).

P. Kumar, “Environmental Qualification (EQ) of Safety Equipment for Indian Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs)”, Workshop on Reliability and Life Assessment of Electronic Systems – Methods & Techniques, Mumbai, India (2012).

Associação Brasileira de Energia Nuclear, “Programa Nuclear da Marinha”, Brasil Nuclear, 49, pp. 6-7 (2018).

Empresa de Pesquisa Energética, Plano Nacional de Energia 2030: Geração Termonuclear, Ministério de Minas e Energia, Brasília, Brazil (2007).

“Armário de ensaio de vibrações, tipo ShakeEvent”, https://www.weiss-technik.com/pt/area-de-produto/armario-de-ensaio-de-vibracoes-tipo-shakeevent/.

“Exciter 3D Three Degrees of Freedom Vibration Test System”, https://www.linkeng.com/en/products/exciter-3d-three-degrees-freedom-vibration-test-system.