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Division Spotlight
Fusion Energy
This division promotes the development and timely introduction of fusion energy as a sustainable energy source with favorable economic, environmental, and safety attributes. The division cooperates with other organizations on common issues of multidisciplinary fusion science and technology, conducts professional meetings, and disseminates technical information in support of these goals. Members focus on the assessment and resolution of critical developmental issues for practical fusion energy applications.
Meeting Spotlight
Utility Working Conference and Vendor Technology Expo (UWC 2024)
August 4–7, 2024
Marco Island, FL|JW Marriott Marco Island
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
August 2024
Nuclear Technology
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Latest News
Vogtle-3 shuts down for valve issue
One of the new Vogtle units in Georgia was shut down unexpectedly on Monday last week for a valve issue that has since been investigated and repaired. According to multiple local news outlets, Georgia Power reported on July 17 that Unit 3 was back in service.
Southern Company spokesperson Jacob Hawkins confirmed that Vogtle-3 went off line at 9:25 p.m. local time on July 8 “due to lowering water levels in the steam generators caused by a valve issue on one of the three main feedwater pumps.”
Janne S. Peltonen, Mohamed A. Mahmoud (Fennovoima Oy), Timo Latvala (Space Systems Finland Ltd.), Kauko Leiviskä (Univ of Oulu)
Proceedings | Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technolgies (NPIC&HMIT 2019) | Orlando, FL, February 9-14, 2019 | Pages 1122-1134
Nuclear qualification of automation (i.e. instrumentation and control systems) has presented a significant challenge for new build and modernization projects during this millennium. Nuclear qualification requirements and differences in national qualification approaches represent a significant commercial risk for potential instrumentation and control (I&C) system suppliers. In particular, compliance with regulatory requirements in one national regulatory environment does not directly allow cross acceptance in another regulatory environment. In this paper, a more holistic approach to nuclear qualification processes is proposed to better understand the concept of qualified automation for nuclear power plants. A lifecycle-based conceptual framework for the nuclear qualification of automation is presented in order to facilitate re-use of qualified engineering artefacts. The proposed conceptual framework is intended for management of differences in national regulations and to allow early identification of gaps and potentially overlapping activities. Recognized international standards and related studies related to qualification are identified and the means to develop a normative basis for nuclear qualification are discussed. Furthermore, a functional approach to qualification is proposed based on a universal concept of functional safety (as defined in IEC 61508 standard) and nuclear sector’s functional defense in depth concept. Top-down requirements specification and qualification processes are suggested to improve the effectiveness of qualification processes planning. Lastly, a concept of a pre-qualification process in an early pre-contractual stage is introduced and a case study regarding pre-qualification is presented.