Reliability of diesel generators in the Finnish and Swedish nuclear power plants

Urho Pulkkinen, Tuomas Mankamo, Juhani Vanhala, Tapio Huovinen, Leena Norros

Research output: Book/ReportReport

Abstract

Diesel generators are used as emergency AC-power sources in nuclear power plants and they produce electric power for other emergency systems during accidents in which offset power is lost. The reliability of diesel generators is thus of major concern for overall safety of nuclear power plants. In this study we consider the reliability of diesel generators in the Swedish and Finnish nuclear power plants on the basis of collected operational experience. We classify the occurred failures according to their functional criticality, type and cause. The failures caused by human errors in maintenance and testing are analysed in detail. We analyse also the reliability of the diesel generator subsystems. Further, we study the effect of surveillance test and the type of test on the reliability. Finally we construct an unavailability model for single dieselgenerator unit and discuss the findings of the study giving some practical recommendations.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationEspoo
PublisherVTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Number of pages66
ISBN (Print)951-38-3621-5
Publication statusPublished - 1989
MoE publication typeNot Eligible

Publication series

SeriesValtion teknillinen tutkimuskeskus. Tiedotteita
Number1070
ISSN0358-5085

Keywords

  • electric power
  • diesel generators
  • nuclear power plants
  • reliability
  • failure rates

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