Milestones of Implementation of Ageing Management for NPP Components

Анотація

The assessment of technical conditions, remaining life forecast and extension of nuclear power plant equipment service life become particularly relevant issues as NPP equipment approaches the end of its design service life. The technical conditions of NPP equipment are affected by a number of factors low-cycle fatigue, metal embrittlement, erosion-corrosion wear, which require using direct methods for defining their values and diagnostics of all the most significant parameters of NPP components. The article is focused on increasing NPP operating performance by implementing measures aimed at timely detection of aging induced degradation and maintaining it within revealed limits. The methodology of aging management for thermal and mechanical equipment and piping is analyzed. Based on operational data the processes resulting in wear of critical NPP equipment are defined. The article also provides advantages of service life management by implementing monitoring and diagnostics of unit equipment. Therefore, the results of aging management could be used to justify possibility of long-term operation.