Use of Batch Methods of Verification of Measurement Channels at Nuclear Power Plants

Abstract

The need for the development of additional regulatory documents for the purpose of increasing the economic efficiency in the operation of nuclear power plants and reducing the labor input involved in verification of their measurement channels is demonstrated. Regulation of provisions regarding means of verification of the measurement channels of nuclear power plants either componentwise or batchwise by means of basic and alternative methods depending on the requirements imposed on the reliability of the results of verification is proposed. Uniformly precise, cross, and compound methods are identified as alternative methods of batch verification. The basic problems that have to be solved in order to develop regulatory documents are identified and the requirements imposed on their basic provisions are presented. It is demonstrated that in existing regulatory documents regulation of provisions on the use of methods of batch verification of measurement channels at nuclear power plants will make it possible to control the error of a channel as a unified means of measurement without the need to dismantle the components, reduce the time needed for verification in the course of shut down of the power unit, and preserve the reliability of the results of verification of a measurement channel at an acceptable level. An example of a technique for estimating the reliability of methods of batch verification as one of the most important criteria for the selection of a verification method is presented.