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U.S. Department of Energy
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A perspective of pressure plant life management in Australia

Book ·
OSTI ID:131855
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Sydney (Australia)
  2. Cryofab Industries Ltd., Sydney (Australia)
Currently, approximately 30% of fossil power generation plants in Australia, representing approximately 25% of the total generating capacity, are over 20 years old. Additionally, the changing generation environment with utility incorporation, privatization and increasing transmission link-up, has resulted in competition between generating sources and increased cyclic operation. This will almost certainly lead to increased life consumption rates. The ability of plants to operate safely and economically requires the assessment of structural integrity of individual critical components and estimation of remaining life. While life assessment technology is a mature concept, it must be developed to optimize both maintenance planning and life extension. A number of individual and collaborative Utility and Government body sponsored plant life related research projects have been established and provide a foundation for the development of life extension practice. This paper briefly describes the Australian power generation industry and overviews fossil plant life research in Australia. Australia is moving towards a regulatory system where legislation places emphasis on the use of risk management as a plant management tool. The experience of the power industry in life cycle management has been influential in the development of a series of progressive national standards to deal with cost effective pressure plant operation, in-service inspection and integrity assessment. This paper also outlines the rationale behind pressure equipment risk management issues in an evolving standards and regulatory framework.
OSTI ID:
131855
Report Number(s):
CONF-950740--; ISBN 0-7918-1334-7
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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