Safety prediction technique for nuclear power plants

Conference · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5644553

Henry, III, C D; Anderson, R T

This paper presents a safety prediction technique (SPT) developed by Reliability Technology Associates (RTA) for nuclear power plants. It is based on a technique applied by RTA to assess the flight safety of US Air Force aircraft. The purpose of SPT is to provide a computerized technique for objective measurement of the effect on nuclear plant safety of component failure or procedural, software, or human error. A quantification is determined, called criticality, which is proportional to the probability that a given component or procedural-human action will cause the plant to operate in a hazardous mode. A hazardous mode is characterized by the fact that there has been a failure/error and the plant, its operating crew, and the public are exposed to danger. Whether the event results in an accident, an incident, or merely the exposure to danger is dependent on the skill and reaction of the operating crew as well as external influences. There are three major uses of SPT: (a) to predict unsafe situations so that corrective action can be taken before accidents occur, (b) to quantify the impact of equipment malfunction or procedural, software, or human error on safety and thereby establish priorities for proposed modifications, and (c) to provide a means of evaluating proposed changes for their impact on safety prior to implementation and to provide a method of tracking implemented changes.

• OSTI ID: 5644553
• Report Number(s): CONF-851115-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 50
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220900* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
ACCIDENTS
ERRORS
FAILURES
FORECASTING
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HUMAN FACTORS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
OPERATION
POWER PLANTS
RADIATION HAZARDS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR OPERATION
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTOR START-UP
RELIABILITY
SAFETY
START-UP
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TRANSIENTS