Chapter 20 - Operating experience

Abstract

This chapter describes the operating experience available on similar installations. The operating experience is one of the principal sources of guidance criteria for the optimization of plants. During the design, operation, and safety evaluation phases of every plant, data can be collected to give information that can be recycled into future activities. Various sets of design and safety criteria are required during the important phases of a plant's life. The collection and the recycling of experience are systematically performed within the responsible organization. The first source of data, because of its universal nature, is the Incident Report System. The World Association of Nuclear Operators represents a responsible and commendable response of the nuclear operators worldwide. The Licensee Event Report collects all the operating experience on the U.S. plants. It is accessible to similar foreign organizations on the basis of bilateral agreements. Some particularly remarkable operating experience events are described for their frequency and peculiarity. More information can be found in the systematic compilations available.