JSM 2011 Online Program

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Abstract Details

Activity Number: 334
Type: Topic Contributed
Date/Time: Tuesday, August 2, 2011 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
Sponsor: Section on Physical and Engineering Sciences
Abstract - #300609
Title: Reliability Modeling of Nuclear Power Plant Subsystems Using Statistical Flowgraphs
Author(s): David H. Collins*+
Companies: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Address: PO Box 1663, MS-F600 , Los Alamos, NM, 87545 ,
Keywords: Nuclear energy ; Flowgraphs ; Semi-Markov process ; Reliability model
Abstract:

Nuclear power plants (NPPs) play an important role in energy security and reduction of airborne pollutants. As part of the U.S. Department of Energy's reactor sustainability program, we are developing models to characterize the reliability and safety of NPP piping subsystems. Subsystems are represented as statistical flowgraphs, with vertices representing states of partial or complete failure and edges representing probability distributions for transitions between states. Failure transitions are driven by processes based on material properties of the pipes, and the physical and chemical dynamics of the fluid being carried. Repair transitions are based on detection of leakage by visual inspection, or non-visible flaws by radiography or ultrasound. Given the complexity of the transition processes, we model the subsystems as semi-Markov processes, using the flowgraph methodology to solve for quantities of interest such as the hazard rate for pipe rupture.


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