atw - International Journal for Nuclear Power | 05.2021

atw Vol. 66 (2021) | Issue 5 ı September
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Conclusions
Ageing is a concern for the safe longterm
operation of NPPs. In particular
for the EU nuclear reactors, many of
them being between 31 – 40 years old.
In this respect, operating experience
from ageing events can contribute to
a great extent to enhance nuclear
safety.
The IRS database was screened to
select relevant events related to
ageing, which took place in the period
01.01.2008 – 30.06.2018. In total
113 events were analysed. The
analysis showed that “28 years” represents
the average age of a nuclear
power plant when the event occurred.
Deficiencies in maintenance or surveillance
is the most important root
cause, followed by deficiencies in
design and in ageing management
programmes. Corrosion is the main
degradation mechanism, followed by
fatigue. Other important contributions
are coming from thermal ageing,
wear and electrical ageing. Many
events only appear after long-term
operation of an aged component or
material, and the main cause was a
deficiency in design that was hidden.
110 low level lessons learned
( specific for the events) and 10 high
level lessons learned (generic) have
been obtained in this study. They
cover different areas, such as hidden
deficiencies in design, the impact of
ageing on maintenance and inspection,
deficiencies or lack of ageing
management programmes, use of
wrong material, etc.
This study highlights that the
continuous analysis of ageing related
events and the efficient utilization
of operational experience provides
important insights for improving the
quality of ageing management programmes
and for preventing the
occurrence of unusual events.
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IAEA, 2010. IRS Guidelines, Joint IAEA/NEA International
Reporting System for Operating Experience, IAEA Services
Series 19, Vienna.
https://www.iaea.org/publications/8405/irs-guidelines
IAEA, 2014. Approaches to Ageing Management for Nuclear
Power Plants: International Generic Ageing Lessons Learned
(IGALL) Final Report, IAEA-TECDOC-1736, IAEA, Vienna.
IAEA, 2018. Specific Safety Guide No. SSG-48, Ageing
Management and Development of Programme for Long Term
Operation of Nuclear Power Plants, IAEA Safety Standards,
Vienna.
https://www.iaea.org/publications/12240/
ageing-management-and-development-of-a-programme-forlong-term-operation-of-nuclear-power-plants
IAEA, 2020. Ageing Management for Nuclear Power Plants:
International Generic Ageing Lessons Learned (IGALL), Safety
Reports Series No. 82 (Rev. 1), IAEA, Vienna.
https://www.iaea.org/publications/13475/
ageing-management-for-nuclear-power-plants-internationalgeneric-ageing-lessons-learned-igall
JRC, 2021. European Clearinghouse on Operating Experience
Feedback.
https://clearinghouse-oef.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
Author
Antonio
Ballesteros Avila
Scientific Officer
Joint Research Centre of
European Commission,
Petten, The Netherlands
Antonio.Ballesteros-
Avila@ec.europa.eu
Antonio Ballesteros is a Scientific Officer of the Joint
Research Centre of European Commission. He has
extensive experience in the fields of material science,
operating experience of nuclear power plants and
nuclear safety. Strong research professional with a
PhD in radiation embrittlement from the Kurchatov
Institute.
Miguel Peinador Veira
Scientific Officer
Joint Research Centre of
European Commission,
Petten, The Netherlands
Miguel.Peinador-Veira@
ec.europa.eu
Miguel Peinador is a Scientific Officer of the Joint
Research Centre of European Commission. He has
experience in nuclear engineering, nuclear safety and
project management. He is currently leading the
European Clearinghouse on Operating Experi ence
Feedback of the Joint Research Centre (JRC)
12th
International
Symposium
Release of Radioactive
Materials
Provisions for Clearance
and Exemption
The new IAEA Safety
Guide DS500
on the “Application
of the concept of
clearance” is in the
process of endorsement
and will provide
detailed guidance on
the application of the
concept of clearance
for materials.
OPERATION AND NEW BUILD 23
References
In cooperation with
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Ballesteros A., Peinador M., Heitsch M., 2015. EU Clearinghouse
Activities on Operating Experience Feedback, BgNS Transactions
volume 20 number 2 (2015) pp. 93–95.
http://bgns-transactions.org/Journals/20-2/vol.20-2_03.pdf
Ballesteros Avila A., 2019. Analysis of ageing related events
occurred in nuclear power plants, Topical Study from the EU
Clearinghouse on Operating Experience, Technical Report by the
Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, JRC119082.
ENSREG, 2018. First Topical Peer Review Report “Ageing
Management”, European Nuclear Safety Regulator’s Group
ENSREG.
http://www.ensreg.eu/eu-topical-peer-review
Euratom Treaty, 2012. Consolidated version of the Treaty
establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/
?uri=CELEX%3A12012A%2FTXT
European Union, 2014. Council Directive 2014/87/Euratom
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https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/
?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.L_.2014.219.01.0042.01.ENG
More information:
www.tuev-nord.de/
tk-rrm
Operation and New Build
Operating Experience from Ageing Events Occurred at Nuclear Power Plants ı Antonio Ballesteros Avila and Miguel Peinador Veira