The Role of Instrumentation and Control Systems in Power Uprating Projects for Nuclear Power Plants (IAEA Nuclear Energy Series)

Increasing plant output is far cheaper and less controversial than constructing new nuclear power plants (NPPs) and is therefore an area of continued interest and work. This publication addresses the role of instrumentation and control (I&C) systems in NPP power uprating projects. The publication also provides a review of the relevant lessons learned and discusses potential concerns. During power uprating projects, in addition to changing or replacing mechanical and process components or equipment, parts of the electrical and I&C systems may also need to be altered to accommodate the new operating conditions and safety limits. It is also common that power uprating in an ageing plant is implemented in parallel with other modernization activities in the I&C systems. Therefore, it is essential to find ways to synchronize these parallel tasks in the I&C field to perform a cost efficient and properly scheduled series of activities serving all the major plant goals.