EPRI program for improvement of I ampersand C systems with digital technology

Many nuclear power plants that have been operating since the 1970s are designed and manufactured based on technology from the 1960s. Because of obsolescence, lack of original equipment manufacturer support, challenges to availability due to unnecessary plant trips, component reliability due to aging, and high maintenance and testing costs, analog-based instrumentation and control (I ampersand C) equipment and systems are being replaced with digital systems in current nuclear power plants. Furthermore, the technology for I ampersand C hardware and software design and development are changing rapidly due to advancement in state-of-the-art technologies. Since 1990, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), on behalf of its member utilities, has developed an Integrated I ampersand C Upgrade Plan and has research and development under way to help solve these I ampersand C obsolescence problems on a plantwide basis. There are various elements of the integrated I ampersand C plan. These technical elements are instrumentation, control and protection, communication, human-machine systems, verification and validation, maintenance, standards and specifications, and plant demonstrations. Goals of the EPRI integrated I ampersand C plan are (a) to develop methodologies applicable to each nuclear steam supply system type plant to implement an integrated I ampersand C upgrade plan, (b) to demonstrate the methodologies through utility application to at least ten key systems by the year 2000, and (c) to achieve enhanced safety, reduction in operating and maintenance costs, increased plant performance, and reduced vulnerability to I ampersand C obsolescence