Radiation tolerance assessment of in-reactor equipment

The operation of electrical and electronic equipment within Sizewell B requires that the equipment withstands the environment within the reactor. In particular, this places stringent limitations on the temperature and radiation tolerance of the system. High temperature tolerance is a factor which is not unique to the nuclear power industry and has been addressed many times for other applications. Radiation tolerance, however, is not a commonly encountered environmental specification and, in the vast majority of cases, special precautions have to be taken to ensure that the equipment will operate as desired. This paper considers the operations likely to be carried out within Sizewell B, describes some of the effects of radiation on electrical and electronic equipment and provides some guidance for increasing radiation tolerance to the desired levels. (Author)