The potential role of new technology for enhanced safety and performance of nuclear power plants through improved service maintenance.

270 Pages·1991·6.8 MB·en_US

by  Achorn, Ted Glen.

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THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY
FOR ENHANCED SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE
OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS THROUGH
IMPROVED SERVICE MAINTENANCE
BY
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TED GLEN ACHORN
13A
JUNE 1991
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The Potential Role ofNew Technology for Enhanced Safety and Performance of
Nuclear Power Plants Through Improved Service Maintenance
by
Ted Glen Achorn
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, U. S. Naval Academy
(1976)
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment ofthe Requirements for the Degrees of
Naval Engineer
and
Master ofScience in Nuclear Engineering
at the
Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology
June 1991
© Ted G. Achorn, 1991, All rights reserved
The author hereby grants MIT and the US government permission to
reproduce and to distribute copies ofthis thesis document in whole or in part
C.J
The Potential Role ofNew Technology for Enhanced Safety and Performance of
Nuclear Power Plants Through Improved Service Maintenance
by
CDR (sel) Ted Glen Achorn
Submitted to the Departments of Ocean and Nuclear Engineering on the
10th of May 1991, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degrees of
Naval Engineer and Master ofScience in Nuclear Engineering.
ABSTRACT
Refinements in the safety and performance ofnuclear power plants must be
made to maintain public confidence and ensure competitiveness with other
power sources. The aircraft industry, US Navy, and other programs have proven
many advanced service maintenance methods that may improve commercial
nuclear plants.
This thesis is concerned with how new technologies in sensing and
monitoring can be used to reduce the potential for hardware failures. The
specific components with the greatest impacts upon safety and performance were
determined using historical data from the experience of the nuclear industry.
Failure modes associated with selected components are used to indicate the most
important monitoring needs and these requirements help focus a technology
survey for potential improvements. The thesis concludes with a discussion of
possible applications which may enhance monitoring needs. Proposals for
focusing future research to further develop appropriate technologies are
presented.
Nuclear facility managers are provided a means to self-analyze the status
of onsite efforts to improve vital safety and performance related equipment in
this thesis. Many ofthe monitoring needs and potential improvements indicated
have general application to most plants. The process discussed in this report can
be used to further tailor technology to plant specific needs.
Thesis supervisor: Kent F. Hansen
Title: Professor ofNuclear Engineering
Thesis Supervisor: Randolph M. Brooks
Title: Professor ofOcean Engineering
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