Overview on use of system reliability analysis for enhancing plant operational safety and productivity

The study Use of System Reliability Analysis for Enhancing Plant Operational Safety and Productivity is a major ongoing research and development endeavor within the Risk Assessment Program of the Nuclear Power Division at Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). It will develop a practical software tool that combined the key features of plant information management systems with applications of system reliability techniques and modern computer technology to assist plant personnel and engineering staff in performing their functions more effectively and accurately. This software is called Reliability Assessment Program with In-Plant Data (RAPID). It can help to resolve many technical difficulties of maintaining an up-to-date probabilistic risk assessment (PRA). More importantly, it aids operators in complying with technical specifications, minimizing violations, enhancing availability, and reducing the number of unplanned scrams. This paper provides an overview of the RAPID activity.