- Our Programme
- Operating Reactors Support
- Expanding Nuclear Power
Plant Life Management (PLiM)
for Safe Long Term Operation (LTO)
Technical Cooperation Projects Activities
National Workshop on Steam Generator Maintenance Programme in Nuclear Power Plants, 10–13 June 2008, Pusan, Korea
The workshop on Steam Generator Maintenance Programme in Nuclear Power Plants was held at Pusan, Republic of Korea from 10–13 June 2008. Two experts (France, Japan) were invited. Korea has 20 units in operation for another 10 years, beyond the original design life ending in 2007. In 1998, Steam Generators (SGs) of Kori unit 1 were replaced by Westinghouse and in 2011 and 2012, SGs of Ulchin 1 and 2 (980 MWe, PWR) will be replaced due to crack of tube sheet and increasing the number of tube plugging.
|
Since August 2005, SG maintenance programme (SGMP) is implementing for Korea NPPs for inspection, integrity evaluation, maintenance, water chemistry, and leakage management of SGs. The main three key elements of SGMP are:
- Degradation Assessment to pre-evaluate conditions before planned overhaul (estimating and planning),
- Condition Monitoring assessment to compare the inspection results against the performance criteria for structural integrity and accident leakage, and
- Operation Assessment to ensure that the structural integrity and accident leakage criteria will not be exceeded during the next cycle.
The purpose of the workshop was to transfer experience concerning the SG maintenance, repair and replacement requirements for the integrated Nuclear Power Plant Life Management (PLiM). The workshop was not focused on theoretical knowledge, but on real situations and national practices. Also interactive learning method is recommended using case studies of actual situations with specific focus on the following topics:
- SG outline structure
- SG design requirements
- SG maintenance and repair
- SG in service inspection
- SG eddy current test
- SG tube plugging and sleeving
- SG sludge lancing
- SG replacement approaches and technique
The workshop has been successfully implemented with 16 participants from 4 Korea national organizations (KHNP, KEPRI, NETEC, KINS).
The level of importance of steam generator maintenance for long term operation has increased considerably during the past several years. The workshop implemented timely and focused on the concepts to a "Know-how" approach to apply real-world situations.
References:
- Heavy Component Replacement in Nuclear Power Plants: Procedure and Experience, NE Series No. NP-T-3.4, IAEA, Vienna (2008)
- Strategy for Assessment of WWER Steam Generator Tube Integrity, IAEA-TECDOC-1577, IAEA, Vienna, (2007)
- Assessment and Management of Ageing of Major Nuclear Power Plant Components Important to Safety: Steam Generators, IAEA-TECDOC-981, IAEA, Vienna (1997)