Statistical analysis of events related to emergency diesel generators failures in the nuclear industry

This paper is aimed at studying the operating experience related to emergency diesel generators (EDGs) at nuclear power plants collected from the past 20 years. Events related to EDGs failures and/or unavailability as well as all the supporting equipment are in the focus of the analysis. The selected operating experience was analysed in detail in order to identify the type of failures, attributes that contributed to the failure, failure modes potential or real, discuss risk relevance, summarize important lessons learned, and provide recommendations. For the purpose of this study EDG failure is defined as EDG failure to function on demand (i.e. fail to start, fail to run) or during testing, or an unavailability of an EDG, except of unavailability due to regular maintenance. The Gesellschaft für Anlagen und Reaktorsicherheit mbH (GRS) and Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) databases as well as the operating experience contained in the IAEA/NEA International Reporting System for Operating Experience and the US Licensee Event Reports were screened. The screening methodology applied for each of the four different databases is presented. Further on, analysis aimed at delineating the causes, root causes, contributing factors and consequences are performed. A statistical analysis was performed related to the types of failures, the operational circumstances of detection of the failure, the manufacturer and the affected components/subsystems. The main findings, conclusions and results of the statistical analysis are discussed. Consequently, a set of recommendations is provided concerning the testing, maintenance, manufacturing and spare parts, supporting equipment and the operating experience feedback related to EDGs.

KANCEV Dusko;  DUCHAC Alexander;  ZERGER Benoît;  MAQUA Michael;  WATTRELOS Didier; 

2014-06-12

ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA

JRC86284

0029-5493,   

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002954931400212X,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC86284,   

10.1016/j.nucengdes.2014.03.050,