Current research results on the technical basis for environmental qualification of safety-related digital I and C systems
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (United States)
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Rockville, MD (United States)
This paper presents results to date of an NRC-sponsored confirmatory research program initiated at three national laboratories to address environmental compatibility/qualification concerns associated with the use of microprocessor-based safety-related instrumentation and control (I and C) systems in nuclear power plants. The research approach involved evaluating existing military and industrial guidance, identifying the most significant environmental stressors and, for advanced I and C systems in a nuclear power plant, investigating the likely failure modes--both at the integrated circuit and system level--for digital technologies under varying levels of environmental stress (such as smoke exposure and electromagnetic and radio-frequency interference). The insights gained from these studies are being used to recommend appropriate methods for qualifying safety-related digital equipment in nuclear power plants.
- Research Organization:
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, Washington, DC (United States); Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 305922
- Report Number(s):
- NUREG/CP-0162-Vol.3; CONF-9710101-Vol.3; ON: TI98007505; TRN: IM9906%%174
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 25. water reactor safety information meeting, Bethesda, MD (United States), 20-22 Oct 1997; Other Information: PBD: Apr 1998; Related Information: Is Part Of Twenty-fifth water reactor safety information meeting: Proceedings. Volume 3: Thermal hydraulic research and codes; Digital instrumentation and control; Structural performance; Monteleone, S. [comp.] [Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (United States)]; PB: 365 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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