Lifetime-Management and Operational Lifetime Extension at Paks Nuclear Power Plant

The design life of the NPP PAKS WWER-440/213 units is 30 years. Formally the design life limits the operational licence. The condition of the equipment after almost 20 years of operation is excellent. The lifetime management activity of the Paks NPP provides a proper basis for the continuation of safe operation. The current Hungarian Nuclear Regulations allow the extension of the operation licence of the NPP Units beyond the design life. To prove the acceptability of continuation of operation the Licensee have to prepare a Licence Renewal Application not later than 5 years before the expiration of the design lifetime. The Licence Renewal process based mainly on USNRC approach taking into account the special features of the WWER-440/213 Units. Summary of the preconditions of the Licence Renewal and the activity for the preparation of the operational lifetime extension are reported in the paper

Key Elements of the Ageing Management of the WWER-440/213 type Nuclear Power Plants

The owner’s intention of WWER-440/213 units in Central Europe is to keep the plants in operation as long as technically feasible and reasonable from business point of view. The preconditions of the long term operation and license renewal are the safety and good plant condition. The past and recent ageing management practices have to ensure the required condition and performance of the essential structures, systems and components. In the paper an overall picture of the long term operation of WWER-440/213 units is given. The review covers ageing of mechanical equipment, building structures and electrical equipment to. Key elements of the ageing management are identified and described. Basic issues of assessment of ageing of essential structures, systems and components, also the issues related to availability of design basis information and lacking environmental qualification are discussed. Reference examples typical for WWER-440/213 plants long term operation are given from Paks Nuclear Power Plant practice