Westinghouse AP1000 Power Production Reliability Classification Methodology

The AP1000 is a pressurized water reactor with passive safety features and extensive plant simplifications that provide significant and measurable improvements in safety, construction, reliability, operation, maintenance and cost. The design of the AP1000 has incorporated a standardization approach, which results in a plant design that can be constructed in multiple geographical regions with varying regulatory standards and expectations. The AP1000 uses proven technology, which builds on over 30 years of operating PWR experience. In order to provide additional assurance that the AP1000 will meet its aggressive reliability and availability goals, Westinghouse has developed a Power Production Reliability Methodology. This methodology is used to identify structures, systems, and components (SSCs) that are important to reliable plant operation and applies appropriate procurement actions to these SSCs. Internationally, nuclear facilities have backfit equipment reliability processes in order to efficiently provide high levels of safe and reliable plant operation. These processes are characterized by the classification of SSCs based on the impact of component failure on plant operation. This classification is used to prioritize and simplify plant maintenance programs, optimize spare parts inventories, and improve component and system performance monitoring. The AP1000 Power Production Reliability Methodology has been developed to utilize compatible classification process to support the design and operation of domestic and international AP1000 plants. The implementation of this process has enabled Westinghouse to identify reliability-important SSCs during the design phase and to establish procurement requirements for these SSCs to be supplied for the AP1000. Plans are being developed to expand the use of the AP1000 Power Production Reliability Methodology to include requirements for storage, transport, construction, and startup testing. The ultimate goal of this process will be the establishment of a site equipment reliability program in accordance with the plant operator’s processes to support effective commercial operation. The execution of the AP1000 Power Production Reliability Methodology will provide an additional level of confidence that the AP1000 will meet the design reliability and availability goals for commercial operation.