• Title/Summary/Keyword: Nuclear power plant (NPPs)

Search Result 216, Processing Time 0.022 seconds

Comparison of the DeSa Project and the Preliminary Decommissioning Plan for Shin-Kori Units 5 and 6 in Terms of Graded Approaches

  • Changju Song;Tae Young Kong;Seongjun Kim;Jinho Son;Woo Seok Choi;hwapyoung Kim;Jiung Kim;Hee Geun Kim
    • Journal of Radiation Industry
    • /
    • v.17 no.2
    • /
    • pp.143-150
    • /
    • 2023
  • A graded approach applies safety requirements differentially, depending on the risk potential. An advantage of applying a graded approach is that safety assessments can be conducted repeatedly by focusing on areas with relatively higher risk than on those with low risk when decommissioning a nuclear power plant (NPP). The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommends applying a graded approach to decommissioning NPPs worldwide. In Korea, the definition of the graded approach requires to be clarified. This study compared the decommissioning method used in Korean NPPs with the IAEA graded approach and examined whether the graded approach can be applied to decommissioning NPPs in Korea. As a result of the comparison, the preliminary decommissioning plan for Shin-Kori Units 5 and 6 showed that the decommissioning method for Korean NPPs is similar to the five-step IAEA graded approach.

Human Reliability Analysis for Digitized Nuclear Power Plants: Case Study on the LingAo II Nuclear Power Plant

  • Zou, Yanhua;Zhang, Li;Dai, Licao;Li, Pengcheng;Qing, Tao
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
    • /
    • v.49 no.2
    • /
    • pp.335-341
    • /
    • 2017
  • The main control room (MCR) in advanced nuclear power plants (NPPs) has changed from analog to digital control system (DCS). Operation and control have become more automated, centralized, and accurate due to the digitalization of NPPs, which has improved the efficiency and security of the system. New issues associated with human reliability inevitably arise due to the adoption of new accident procedures and digitalization of main control rooms in NPPs. The LingAo II NPP is the first digital NPP in China to apply the state-oriented procedure. In order to address issues related to human reliability analysis for DCS and DCS + state-oriented procedure, the Hunan Institute of Technology conducted a research project based on a cooperative agreement with the LingDong Nuclear Power Co. Ltd. This paper is a brief introduction to the project.

Intelligent Software System for the Advanced Control Room of a Nuclear Power Plant

  • Chang, Soon-Heung;Park, Seong-Soo;Park, Jin-Kyun;Gyunyoung Heo;Kim, Han-Gon
    • Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
    • /
    • 1997.10a
    • /
    • pp.443-448
    • /
    • 1997
  • The intelligent software system for nuclear power plants (NPPs) has been conceptually designed in this study. Its design goals are to operate NPPs in n improved manner and to support operators' cognitive tasks. It consists of six major modules such as "Information Processing," "Alarm Processing," "Procedure Tracking," "Performance Diagnosis," and "Event Diagnosis" modules for operators and "Malfunction Diagnosis" module for maintenance personnel. Most of the modules have been developed for several years and the others are under development. After the completion of development, they will be combined into one system that would be main parts of advanced control rooms in NPPs. that would be main parts of advanced control rooms in NPPs.

  • PDF

Cyber attack taxonomy for digital environment in nuclear power plants

  • Kim, Seungmin;Heo, Gyunyoung;Zio, Enrico;Shin, Jinsoo;Song, Jae-gu
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
    • /
    • v.52 no.5
    • /
    • pp.995-1001
    • /
    • 2020
  • With the development of digital instrumentation and control (I&C) devices, cyber security at nuclear power plants (NPPs) has become a hot issue. The Stuxnet, which destroyed Iran's uranium enrichment facility in 2010, suggests that NPPs could even lead to an accident involving the release of radioactive materials cyber-attacks. However, cyber security research on industrial control systems (ICSs) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems is relatively inadequate compared to information technology (IT) and further it is difficult to study cyber-attack taxonomy for NPPs considering the characteristics of ICSs. The advanced research of cyber-attack taxonomy does not reflect the architectural and inherent characteristics of NPPs and lacks a systematic countermeasure strategy. Therefore, it is necessary to more systematically check the consistency of operators and regulators related to cyber security, as in regulatory guide 5.71 (RG.5.71) and regulatory standard 015 (RS.015). For this reason, this paper attempts to suggest a template for cyber-attack taxonomy based on the characteristics of NPPs and exemplifies a specific cyber-attack case in the template. In addition, this paper proposes a systematic countermeasure strategy by matching the countermeasure with critical digital assets (CDAs). The cyber-attack cases investigated using the proposed cyber-attack taxonomy can be used as data for evaluation and validation of cyber security conformance for digital devices to be applied, and as effective prevention and mitigation for cyber-attacks of NPPs.

A Study on the EMC for Application of Wireless Communication System in Nuclear Power Plants (무선통신시스템 활용을 위한 원자력발전소 EMC 확보방안에 관한 연구)

  • Ko, Do-Young;Bae, Byung-Hwan
    • Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
    • /
    • 2006.10c
    • /
    • pp.500-502
    • /
    • 2006
  • Recently, nuclear power plants have been testing for application of wireless communication system to improve communication easier. Improving the availability of communication in NPPs, plant operation ability and good communication have contributed to the lower reactior trip frequency. In these regards, the possibilities of improvement in communication systems are reviewed detail. Especially, we reviewed the wire communication system, facility effect, regulation and new technologies. In this paper, we described the application of wireless in NPPs by studying EMI/RFI, EMC effect.

  • PDF

A framework of examining the factors affecting public acceptance of nuclear power plant: Case study in Saudi Arabia

  • Salman M. Alzahrani;Anas M. Alwafi;Salman M. Alshehri
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
    • /
    • v.55 no.3
    • /
    • pp.908-918
    • /
    • 2023
  • The Saudi National Atomic Energy project aims to adopt peaceful nuclear technologies and be part of the country's energy mix. As emerging nuclear energy, it is essential to understand public concerns and acceptability of nuclear energy, as well as the factors influencing acceptance to develop nuclear energy policy and implement nuclear energy programs. The purpose of this study is to analyze the public attitudes and acceptance of nuclear energy among Saudi Arabian citizens by utilizing protection motivation theory and theory of planned behavior. A total of 1,404 participants answered a questionnaire which was distribute by convenience sampling approach. A Structural Equation Modeling framework was constructed and analyzed to understand public behavior toward building the country's first Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Before analyzing the data, the model was validated. The research concluded that the benefits of nuclear power plants were essential in determining people's acceptance of NPPs. Surprisingly, the effect of the perceived benefits was found higher than the effect of the perceived risks to the acceptance. Furthermore, the public's participation in this study revealed that the NPPs location has a significant impact on their acceptance. Based on the finding, several policy implementations were suggested. Finally, the study's model results would benefit scholars, government agencies, and the business sector in Saudi Arabia and worldwide.

A Study on the Determinants of Decommissioing Cost for Nuclear Power Plant (NPP)

  • Cha, Hyungi;Yoon, Yongbeum;Park, Soojin
    • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
    • /
    • v.19 no.1
    • /
    • pp.87-111
    • /
    • 2021
  • Nuclear power plants (NPPs) produce radioactive waste and decommissioning this waste entails additional cost; determining these costs for various types and specifications of radioactive waste can be challenging. The purpose of this study is to identify major determinants of the decommissioning cost and their impact on NPPs. To this end, data from defunct NPPs were gathered and 2SLS (Two Stage Least Squares) regression models were developed to investigate the major contributors depending on the reactor types, viz. PWR (Pressurized Water Reactors) and BWR (Boiling Water Reactors). Additionally, cost estimations and the Monte Carlo simulation were performed as part of performance validation. Our study established that the decommissioning costs are primarily influenced by the level of radioactivity in the decommissioned waste, which can be realized from operational factors like operation period, overall efficiency, and plant capacity, as well as from duration of decommissioning and labour cost. While our study provides an improved statistical approach to recognize these factors, we acknowledge that our models have limitations in forecasting accurately which we envisage to bolster in future studies by identifying more substantive factors.

A study on classification of the security controls for the effective implementation to nuclear power plant

  • Han, Sang Min;Lee, Chanyoung;Chae, Young Ho;Seong, Poong Hyun
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
    • /
    • v.54 no.4
    • /
    • pp.1245-1252
    • /
    • 2022
  • As regulatory bodies require full implementation of security controls in nuclear power plants (NPPs), security functions for critical digital assets are currently being developed. For the ultimate introduction of security controls, not alternative measures, it is important to understand the relationship between possible cyber threats to NPPs and security controls to prevent them. To address the effectiveness of the security control implementation, this study investigated the types of cyber threats that can be prevented when the security controls are implemented through the mapping of the reorganized security controls in RS-015 to cyber threats on NPPs. Through this work, the cyber threat that each security control can prevent was confirmed, and the effectiveness of several strategies for implementing the security controls were compared. This study will be a useful reference for utilities or researchers who cannot use design basis threat (DBT) directly and be helpful when introducing security controls to NPPs that do not have actual security functions.

A Study on the Operational Events of Domestic Nuclear Power Plants for Multi-unit Risk (원전 다수기 리스크 평가를 위한 국내 원전 사건이력 조사 연구)

  • Lim, Hak Kyu
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
    • /
    • v.34 no.5
    • /
    • pp.167-174
    • /
    • 2019
  • Compared to a single nuclear power plant (NPP) risk, the commonalities existing in the multiple NPPs attribute the characteristics of the multi-unit risk. If there is no commonality among the multiple NPPs, there will be no dependency among the risks of multiple NPPs. Therefore, understanding the commonality causing multi-unit events is essential to assessing the multi-unit risk, and identifying the characteristics of the multi-unit risk is necessary not only to select the scope and method for the multi-unit risk assessment, but also to analyze the data of the multi-unit events. In order to develop Korea-specific multi-unit risk assessment technology, we analyze the multi-unit commonalities included in the operational experiences of domestic NPPs. We identified 58 cases of multi-unit events through detailed review of domestic nuclear power plant event reports over the past 10 years, and the multi-unit events were classified into six commonalities to identify Korea-specific characteristics of multi-unit events. The identified characteristics can be used to understand and manage domestic multi-unit risks. It can also be used as a basis for modeling multi-unit events for multi-unit risk assessment.

Event diagnosis method for a nuclear power plant using meta-learning

  • Hee-Jae Lee;Daeil Lee;Jonghyun Kim
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
    • /
    • v.56 no.6
    • /
    • pp.1989-2001
    • /
    • 2024
  • Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques are now being considered in the nuclear field, but application faces with the lack of actual plant data. For this reason, most previous studies on AI applications in nuclear power plants (NPPs) have relied on simulators or thermal-hydraulic codes to mimic the plants. However, it remains uncertain whether an AI model trained using a simulator can properly work in an actual NPP. To address this issue, this study suggests the use of metadata, which can give information about parameter trends. Referred to here as robust AI, this concept started with the idea that although the absolute value of a plant parameter differs between a simulator and actual NPP, the parameter trend is identical under the same scenario. Based on the proposed robust AI, this study designs an event diagnosis algorithm to classify abnormal and emergency scenarios in NPPs using prototypical learning. The algorithm was trained using a simulator referencing a Westinghouse 990 MWe reactor and then tested in different environments in Advanced Power Reactor 1400 MWe simulators. The algorithm demonstrated robustness with 100 % diagnostic accuracy (117 out of 117 scenarios). This indicates the potential of the robust AI-based algorithm to be used in actual plants.