Use of Probabilistic Safety Assessments (PSA) for Evaluation of Impact of Aging Effects on the Safety of Nuclear Power Plants - Proceedings of EC Enlargement and Integration Workshop, 15-16 November 2007, Budapest, Hungary

Abstract

The goal of the workshop was to present, exchange and discuss the research results, best practice, methods and approaches available for application of reliability and PSA techniques on NPP aging evaluation and management. In the next decade the aging management and life extension issues will became one of the key points of nuclear safety. The PSA as a safety evaluation tool could be more integrated into these programs to help with identification and prioritization of ageing issues and optimization of ageing management activities. For applying PSA to characterize potential risks associated with ageing effects, PSA should be as realistic as practical and appropriate support data should be available for the review. ¿ If PSA could be applied for ageing assessments? ¿ How realistically PSA models reflect important ageing issues? ¿ If any modifications or revisions of PSA assumptions are needed to apply PSA approach for risk-informed decision making in case of ageing evaluation? ¿ What data are available and how representative they are with regards to the important ageing issues? These and other related issues were presented and discussed during the workshop.