Improvement of Pressurizer PROV System through Micro - Computer and PRA

Abstract

Small break LOCA caused by a stuck-open PORV is one of the important contributors to nuclear power plant risk. This paper deals with the design of a pressurizer surveillance system using micro-computer to prevent the malfunction of system and has assessed the effect of this improvement through Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) method. Micro-computer diagnoses the malfunction of system by a process checking method and performs automatically backup action related to each malfunction. Owing to this improvement, we can correctly diagnose "Spurious Opening", "Fail to Reclose" and "Small break LOCA" which are difficult for operator to diagnose quickly and correctly and reduce the probability of a human error by an automatic backup action.