Extensions and renovations of reactor protection systems

Increase of requirements by the authorities as to the design of reactor protection systems affected in the last years not only plans being under construction, but also resulted in partly spacious extensions and renovations. While working on the extensions and renovations a lot of problems arose: far-reaching performance of newest guidelines and rules in spite of old plant concepts; partly higher degree of redundancy requirements of the new systems in contrast to the present systems; use of present safeguard systems for new accident countermeasures; designation of priorities between present and new functions, especially in view of fault behaviour of present systems; adaptation of the new I and C equipment to the present signalisation-, operation- and information-arrangements under consideration of the present operational philosophy; spatial incorporation of new equipments; construction as to time without expanding of the planned refuelling phases. Because the KWU has planned and constructed such alterations in nearly 10 plants a lot of experience has been gathered. (author)