A Petri net model-based resilience analysis of nuclear power plants under the threat of natural hazards. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yan, Rundong; Dunnett, Sarah; Andrews, John
• Is Part Of: Reliability engineering & system safety. Volume 230(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: Petri net -- Resilience -- Nuclear power -- Station blackout -- Loss of coolant accident; BDBA Beyond design basis accident -- CDPP Combined deterministic and probabilistic procedure -- ECIS Emergency coolant injection system -- EDG Emergency diesel generator -- GDCS Gravity-driven cooling system -- HILP High-impact low-probability -- IRPN Immediate response Petri net -- MPPN Mitigation process Petri net -- NPP Nuclear power plant -- HT Heat transport -- LOCA Loss of coolant accident -- LBLOCA Large-break loss of coolant accident -- PHTS Primary heat transport system -- PHWR Pressurised heavy-water reactor -- PN Petri net -- RMPN Recovery and maintenance Petri net -- RSPN Reactor system Petri net -- SHTS Secondary heat transport system -- SBO Station blackout -- SBLOCA Small-break loss of coolant accident -- SCS Shutdown cooling system -- SDG Standby diesel generator -- SDS1 Shutoff rods -- SDS2 Poison injection system; Reliability (Engineering) -- Periodicals; System safety -- Periodicals; Industrial safety -- Periodicals; Fiabilité -- Périodiques; Sécurité des systèmes -- Périodiques; Sécurité du travail -- Périodiques; 620.00452
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ress.2022.108979
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0951-8320

Abstract

Highlights: Resilience of nuclear power plant against HILP events is assessed. Petri net is effective in modelling the damage and maintenance of nuclear reactor. The deterioration of the systems should not be neglected in the resilience study. Periodic maintenance is critical for ensuring the resilience of nuclear reactor. Abstract: Due to global climate change, nuclear power plants are increasingly exposed to the threats of extreme natural disasters. In this paper, a resilience engineering approach is applied to tackle all aspects of nuclear safety, spanning from design, operation, and maintenance to accident response and recovery, in the case of high-impact low-probability events. Petri net models are developed to simulate the losses caused by extreme events, the health states of relevant systems, mitigation processes, and the recovery and maintenance processes. The method developed is applied to assess the resilience of a single-unit pressurised heavy water reactor under the threat of three possible external events. Possible loss of coolant accidents and station blackout accidents caused by the events are considered. With the aid of the models developed, both the influence of stochastic deterioration and the impact of external events on the resilience of the reactor can be assessed quantitatively. The simulation results show that the method can comprehensively describe the resilience of nuclear power plants against various disruptive events. It is also found that the stochastic deterioration that does not directly affect the operation of nuclear reactors is critical to the resilience of reactors.