Plan for Demonstration of Online Monitoring for the Light Water Reactor Sustainability Online Monitoring Project

Abstract

Use of online monitoring technologies and the development of diagnostic and prognostic methodologies have drawn tremendous interest in the nuclear industry. It has become important to identify and resolve problems with structures, systems, and components to ensure plant safety, efficiency, and immunity to accidents in the aging fleet of reactors. The Machine Condition Monitoring (MCM) test bed at INL will be used to demonstrate the effectiveness of advancements in online monitoring, sensors, diagnostic and prognostic technologies on a pilot-scale plant that mimics the hydraulics of a nuclear plant. As part of this research project, INL will research available prognostics architectures and their suitability for deployment in a nuclear power plant. In addition, INL will provide recommendations to improve the existing diagnostic and prognostic architectures based on the experimental analysis performed on the MCM test bed.