A Plant Life Management Model as Support to Plant Life Extension Programs of Nuclear Installations - Effective Integration of the Safety Programs into an Overall Optimization of the Operating Costs

Main objectives of this report, as outcome of the research activities carried out in 2008 and in previous years by the research network SENUF, are the following: 1. To collect the experience of the European Countries in the field of Plant Life Management (PLIM) and Plant Life Extension (PLEX), seen as two crucial programs in safety and cost optimisation at operating plants 2. To settle a model for PLIM also suitable to support a PLEX program, tailored to the European market 3. To validate the proposed model against the European practice. The basic goal of PLiM, as it is defined in this research, is to satisfy requirements for safe, possibly long-term, supplies of electricity in an economically competitive way. The basic goal of the operating companies is to operate as long as economically reasonable from the safety point of view. PLiM is a management tool for doing that. Therefore PLiM is a system of programmes and procedures developed in many Countries, with some differences due to the national framework, to satisfy safety requirements for safe operation and for power production in a competitive way in a time frame which is rational from both the technical and economical point of view. PLiM programmes address both technical and economic issues, as well as knowledge management issues. This report makes reference to the first part of this study that was completed in 2007, when a PLIM model was proposed and validated at real Nuclear Power Plants. This report adds some important contributions in three areas: definition of the PLIM scope, review of the Ageing Management Program for selected structures, management of contractors and strategic alliances. These contributions were selected after a thorough analysis of the European best practice, also with the contribution of the SENUF network Members. The validation of the proposed PLIM model, including the improvements described in this report, represents only the first step of a more ambitious program of validation/improvement that will be implemented in the course of 2009.JRC.F.5-Safety of present nuclear reactor

A Plant Life Management Model Including Optimized MS&I Program - Safety and Economic Issues

This report collects the experience of the European Countries in the field of Plant Life Management (PLIM) and maintenance optimisation, as a background for the development of a new PLIM models, suitable for the European framework. The research highlights the the basic goal of PLiM in terms of support to a safe long-term supply of electricity in an economically competitive way. A PLIM model is proposed, validated with the experience of the SENUF research network members and with the essential contribution of managers and staff of a selected nuclear plant. The model addresses both technical and economic issues, as well as organizational and knowledge management issues and is now open for a broader validation by the research and engineering communities, to be carried out in the coming research steps.JRC.F.5-Nuclear operation safet

Italian version of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT-I)

Study design: Evaluation of the psychometric properties of a translated, culturally adapted questionnaire. Objective: Translating, culturally adapting, and validating the Italian version of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT-I). Summary of background data: Ankle sprains are one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries and can lead to chronic ankle instability (CAI). The International Ankle Consortium recommends the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) as a valid and reliable self-report questionnaire assessing the presence and severity of CAI. At this moment, there is no validated Italian version of CAIT. Methods: The Italian version of the CAIT (CAIT-I) was developed by an expert committee. Test-retest reliability of the CAIT-I was measured in 286 healthy and injured participants within a 4-9-day period, by using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC2,1). Construct validity, exploratory factor analysis, internal consistency and sensitivity were examined in a sample of 548 adults. Instrument responsiveness over 4 time points was determined in a subgroup of 37 participants. Results: The CAIT-I demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability (ICC≥0.92) and good internal consistency (α = .84). Construct validity was confirmed. Identified cut-off for the presence of CAI was 24.75, with sensitivity= 0.77 and specificity= 0.65. There were significant differences across time for CAIT-I scores (P < .001), demonstrating responsiveness to change, but no floor or ceiling effects. Conclusion: The CAIT-I demonstrates acceptable psychometric performance as a screening and outcome measure. The CAIT-I is a useful tool to assess the presence and severity of CAI

b-tagging in DELPHI at LEP

Abstract: The standard method used for tagging b-hadrons in the DELPHI experiment at the CERN LEP Collider is discussed in detail. The main ingredient of b-tagging is the impact parameters of tracks, which relies mostly on the vertex detector. Additional information, such as the mass of particles associated to a secondary vertex, significantly improves the selection efficiency and the background suppression. The paper describes various discriminating variables used for the tagging and the procedure of their combination. In addition, applications of b-tagging to some physics analyses, which depend crucially on the performance and reliability of b-tagging, are described briefly

Measurement of the Tau Lepton Polarisation at LEP2

A first measurement of the average polarisation P_tau of tau leptons produced in e+e- annihilation at energies significantly above the Z resonance is presented. The polarisation is determined from the kinematic spectra of tau hadronic decays. The measured value P_tau = -0.164 +/- 0.125 is consistent with the Standard Model prediction for the mean LEP energy of 197 GeV.A first measurement of the average polarisation Pτ of tau leptons produced in e + e − annihilation at energies significantly above the Z resonance is presented. The polarisation is determined from the kinematic spectra of tau hadronic decays. The measured value Pτ=−0.164±0.125 is consistent with the Standard Model prediction for the mean LEP energy of 197 GeV.A first measurement of the average polarisation P_tau of tau leptons produced in e+e- annihilation at energies significantly above the Z resonance is presented. The polarisation is determined from the kinematic spectra of tau hadronic decays. The measured value P_tau = -0.164 +/- 0.125 is consistent with the Standard Model prediction for the mean LEP energy of 197 GeV

Integrating Corporate Social Responsibility into Corporate Strategy: The Role of Formal Tools

This paper contributes to the literature debate on the role that formal tools used in the management of CSR activities can play in the integration of CSR into corporate strategy. In particular, the purpose of this research is two-fold: firstly, to investigate if a high degree of formalisation of CSR activities is needed to reach a high degree of integration of CSR into corporate strategy; secondly, to understand what roles CSR formal tools play in this integration process. In order to answer these research questions, eleven case studies of large multinational companies operating in Italy were developed. The results of the empirical analysis show that a high degree of integration is often coupled with intensive use of formalization, with some interesting exceptions. This result can be explained by the active role that almost all CSR formalisation elements play in the integration process of CSR in the overall corporate strategy

Plant Life Management Models with Special Emphasis to the Integration of Safety with Non-safety Related Programs

Due to current social and economical framework, in last years many nuclear power plant owners started a program for the Long Term Operation (LTO)/PLIM (Plant Life Management) of their older nuclear facilities. PLIM/PLEX has already been implemented in many countries (USA over 20 licensees, Russia 4 etc.). This process has many nuclear safety implications, other than strategic and political ones. The need for tailoring the available safety assessment tools to such applications has become urgent in recent years and triggered many research actions. In particular, a PLIM framework requires both a detailed review of the features of the main safety programs (Maintenance, ISI, Surveillance) and a complete integration of these programs into the general management system of the plant. New external factors, such as: large use of subcontractors, need for efficient management of spare parts, request for heavy plant refurbishment programs demand for updated techniques in the overall management of the plant. Therefore new organisational models have to be developed to appropriately support the PLIM framework, integrating both safety related and non safety related issues. Last year a network of European Organisations operating Nuclear Power Plants, SENUF, under the coordination of the JRC-IE, carried out an extensive questionnaire on maintenance practice in their facilities aiming at capturing the aspects of the maintenance programs where research is mostly needed. This paper uses some results of the questionnaire, which was not oriented to LTO/PLIM, to draw some conclusions on how the current maintenance programs could support a potential LTO/PLIM, among the other programs running at NPPs. In this sense, it is spin-off of the SENUF WG on maintenance. The paper aims at identifying the technical attributes of the maintenance programs more directly affecting the decision for a long-term safe operation of a nuclear facility, the issues related to their implementation and safety review. The paper includes an analysis of the questionnaire circulated among the SENUF participants and a discussion on the implications of optimised maintenance programs in existing plants. Some examples at WWER plants taken by sources other than SENUF complete the overview, with some proposals for solution of practical implementation problems.JRC.F.5-Nuclear operation safet

Research Priorities at the European Commission in Relation to Maintenance Optimisation and Nuclear Power Plant Life Management

Analysis of experience in many countries operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) suggests that, while differences in long term operation (LTO) programs are mainly related to the various national regulatory processes, the main features and basic technical requirements are similar.The implementation of these however needs reshaping in a an integrated plant life management (PLIM) framework, bearing in mind the specific safety implications of LTO. R&D is essential to support this process, not only for long term extrapolation of the component integrity and behaviour, but also for a proper maintenance system and for an adequate management structure ensuring effective management strategies at plant level, able to address organisational issues, spare part management, staff ageing, component obsolescence, etc. This is recognised by the European Commission, which supports R&D in targetted areas in the framework of the EURATOM programme, both by ¿direct actions¿ i.e. projects managed and executed by its Directorate General Joint Research Centers (JRC) and by indirect actions i.e. funding of selected projects, managed by the Directorate General Research (RTD). This paper outlines the JRC¿s priorities in the current 7th Framework Programme in relation to R&D tasks for maintenance and ISI to support the highest safety level at member¿s NPPs and appropriate decision-making tools for the optimisation of these programs. A newly developed UE model for PLIM, also inetgrating maintenance optimisation issues, is presented for further discussion.JRC.F.5-Safety of present nuclear reactor

Research Priorities at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission in Relation to Maintenance Optimisation and Nuclear Power Plant Life Management

Due to current social and economical framework, in last years many Electric Utilities and Nuclear Power Plants adopted a framework for an improved coordination of both safety and non-safety programs, called Plant Life Management (PLIM). Some of them also started a process of Long Term Operation (LTO) for their older nuclear facilities, showing that a PLIM framework is particularly effective in such processes. The implemenattion of the PLIM framework followed many different approaches, being intrinsically dependent on the national regulatory framework and technical tradition. In particular, the LTO process has many nuclear safety implications, other than strategic and political ones, and therefore in recent years the need for tailoring the available safety assessment tools to such applications has become very urgent. The analysis of the experience in countries operating Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) suggested that most of the differences affecting the LTO programs are mainly related to the regulatory process (typically in the use of the periodic safety review), while the main components of the LTO program and its basic technical tasks are shared among most of the countries. Most of these tasks are rather general; however in many cases they need reshaping in a PLIM framework, with special focus to the safety implications of the LTO. Their standard features, developed for plant still in their design life, need some modifications to support a long term decision. This is why R&D tasks are needed in this phase, not only in the long term (i.e. more than 10 years of the standard periodicity of the Periodic Safety Review process) extrapolation of the component integrity and behaviour, but a also in new management strategies at the plant (PLIM), able to address organisational issues, spare part management, staff ageing, component obsolescence, etc. The European Commission, especially in the framework of the EURATOM programme, identified specific R&D priorities to be mainly addressed by “direct actions” managed by the Joint Research Centers (JRC). The best chance for implementation is given by the newly launched Framnework Programme 7 (FP7), where large coverage is given also to the nuclear safety issues. This paper, making reference to these priorities identified in the FP7, describes the R&D tasks that could effectively support Plant Life Management Models (PLIM) at NPPs, more directly affecting the decision for a long-term safe operation of a nuclear facility. In particular the paper provides an analysis of the research actions already in progress at the European Commission-Joint Research Center (EC-JRC) and their preliminary results.JRC.F.5-Nuclear operation safet