Key Elements in Seismic Qualification of Equipment Using the Experience-Based Method

1
Key Elements inSeismic Qualification of
EquipmentUsing the Experience-Based Method
2
What is the Seismic Experience-Based Method?

• Methods applied to verify that as-installed
  equipment in operating plants is seismically
  adequate
• Approach has also been applied in new revisions
  national standards (IEEE 344-2004 and ASME QME)
• Range of cost savings realized by SQUG member
  utilities is up to 500,000/year with
  significantly shorter procurement times

3
What is SQUG?

• Seismic Qualification Utility Group, formed to
  develop resolution of NRC Unresolved Safety Issue
  (USI) A-46
• Membership
• Originally there were 30 U.S. companies, but
  through consolidation there are now 15 U.S.
  companies
• 12 International companies
• Charter EPRI Owner's Group
• Leadership
• Utility Steering Group (6 members currently
  serving)
• EPRI project management
• Contractor support

4
Members of SQUG Past and Present
American Electric Power Co. AWE (United Kingdom) Baltimore Gas Electric Co. Boston Edison Co. British Energy (United Kingdom) Bruce Power (Canada) Carolina Power Light Co. Central Nuclear De Almaraz (Spain) Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique (CEA) (France) Commonwealth Edison Co. Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Inc. Constellation Energy Consumers Power Co. Detroit Edison Dominion Duke Energy (formerly Duke Power Co.) Duquesne Light Co. Electricité de France (France) ENEL ctn (NIRA) (Italy) Entergy Exelon First Energy Florida Power Corp. Forsmarks Kraftgrupp AB (Sweden) GPU Nuclear Corp. Iowa Electric Light Power Co. Korea Hydro Nuclear Power (Korea) Magnox North (United Kingdom) Nebraska Public Power District New York Power Authority Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. Northeast Utilities Services Co. Northern States Power Co. Nuclear Electric Nuclear Management Company OKG AB (Sweden) Omaha Public Power District Ontario Power Generation (Canada) Pennsylvania Power Light Co. Philadelphia Electric Co. Portland General Electric Co. Progress Energy Public Service Company of Colorado Public Service Electric Gas Co. PSEG Nuclear Rochester Gas Electric Corp. Rolls-Royce Power Engineering (United Kingdom) Sacramento Municipal Utility District Scottish Nuclear (Scotland) Siemens/KWU (Germany) Southern California Edison Co. Southern Nuclear Corp. - Alabama Power Co. - Georgia Power Co. Tennessee Valley Authority Tokyo Electric Power Company (Japan) Toledo Edison Co. Tractebel-Suez (Belgium) Vattenfall AB, Ringhals (Sweden) Virginia Power Co. Westinghouse Savanna River Co. Wisconsin Electric Power Co. Wisconsin Public Service Corp. Yankee Utilities - Maine Yankee Atomic Power Co. - Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. - Yankee Atomic Electric Co. Xcel Nuclear
SQUG power plant(s) acquired by another SQUG
member utility Former SQUG member company
All but one U.S. utility directly affected by USI
A-46became a member of SQUG in the 1980s
5
What is the Seismic Experience-Based Method?

• Collect Field and Test Experience Data
• Earthquake reconnaissance investigations
• Past shake table tests
• Method Includes the Development of
• More than twenty classes of equipment
• Generic seismic ruggedness levels
• Restrictions, bounds, and conditions on its use
• Data limits
• Good practices
• Lessons learned

6
What is the Earthquake Experience Database?

• Collection of data from large earthquakes since
  1971
• Contains detailed records of equipment
  performance
• Documents root causes of damaged equipment
• Contains inventories of undamaged equipment
• Continues to be updated as large, significant
  earthquakes occur

Earthquake Experience Database include success
and failure data
7
Primary Earthquakes Contributing to the
Experience Database
Adak
Quebec
Boram Mt.
Armenia
Wales
Livermore
Ferndale Humbolt
Alum Rock
Italy
Painesville
Loma Prieta
Miyagh-Ken-Oki
Gilroy
Chalfant Valley
Bishop Mammoth Mt.
Morgan Hill
Gorman
Turkey
Coalinga
Izu Peninsula
Upland
Santa Barbara
Point Mugu
Northern Taiwan
Iran
San Fernando
Whittier
Central Luzon, Philippines
Palm Springs
Superstition Hills
Brawley Imperial Valley
Cerro Prieto
Mexico
San Salvador
Managua
Costa Rica Panama
Chile
Australia
New Zealand
8
Facilities Housing Equipment in Database

• Power generation facilities
• Substations
• Pumping stations
• Industrial facilities
• Commercial facilities
• Refineries

9
Classes of Equipment Covered by Experience
Data

• 1. Motor control centers
• 2. Low voltage switchgear
• 3. Medium voltage switchgear
• 4. Transformers
• 5. Horizontal pumps
• 6. Vertical pumps
• 7. Fluid-operated valves
• 8A. Motor-operated valves
• 8B. Solenoid-operated valves
• 9. Fans
• 10. Air handlers
• 11. Chillers
• 12. Air compressors
• 13. Motor-generators

• 14. Distribution panels
• 15. Batteries on racks
• 16. Battery chargers and inverters
• 17. Engine-generators
• 18. Instruments on racks
• 19. Temperature sensors
• 20. Control and instrumentation panels and
  cabinets
• 21. Tanks and heat exchangers
• 22. Cable and conduit raceways
• 23. Overhead cranes
• 24. Piping systems
• 25. HVAC duct and damper systems

10
Extent of Data Vertical Pumps (Example)
Vast majority of equipment was operable
during/after the earthquake
11
Bounds of Application
Ground motion from some of the largest
earthquakesformed the basis for equipment
seismic capacity
12
Development of Generic Equipment Ruggedness
Spectra (GERS)
Generic test data was used to establish higher
equipment capacities
13
1. Overall Approach for Resolving USI A-46
Safe ShutdownEquipment List (SSEL)
Equipment Evaluation
Relay Review
NRC
Summary Report
Outlier Resolution
NRC
Completion Letter
14
2. Equipment Evaluation
SSEL
20 Classes of Equipment
Tanks Heat Exchangers
Cable Trays Conduit Raceways
Summary Report
15
3. Equipment Class Screens

Equipment Screens

16
6. Relay Review Screens
17
Generic Implementation Procedure (GIP)

• GIP includes detailed, NRC-accepted procedures
  developed prior to execution of USI A-46 reviews
  by SQUG members
• GIP defines minimum set of safe shutdown
  equipment
• Includes screening guidelines and acceptance
  criteria
• Includes plant walkdown procedures
• Includes special evaluations for
• Tanks and heat exchangers
• Cable trays and conduit raceways
• Relays

GIP provides comprehensive seismic
evaluationguidelines and criteria for many
classes of equipment
18
Generic Implementation Procedure (GIP)

• GIP facilitated NRC review and approval of the
  guidelines and criteria for resolution of USI
  A-46
• GIP walkdowns and evaluations require engineering
  judgment
• NRC required experienced, trained engineers to
  use GIP
• SQUG developed several utility training courses
  to implement the GIP
• Development of Safe ShutdownEquipment List
  (SSEL)
• Relay Evaluation
• Walkdown and Screening Evaluation
• Workshops

19
Key Elements of GIP Method

1. Covers conventional electrical equipment,
   mechanical equipment, tanks, heat exchangers, and
   cable/conduit raceways
2. Based on earthquake and test experience data
3. Requires plant walkdowns of the equipment
4. Requires use of engineering judgment
5. Requires use of experienced, trained Seismic
   Capability Engineers (SCEs)
6. Minimizes need for dynamic analysis and shake
   table testing

20
New and Replacement Equipment (NARE)

• GIP method can also be used for seismic
  qualification of New and Replacement Equipment
  and Parts
• For qualifying commercial-grade equipment and
  parts
• Can be used for the remainder of the operating
  life of plant
• Can be integrated with procurement process for
  parts
• Seismic, procurement, and licensing engineers
  involved
• SQUG developed training courses to apply NARE
  method
• Two-day NARE Training Course to enhance the
  capabilities of the SCEs
• One-half day SQUG/NARE Awareness Training Course
  to help other plant personnel understand the key
  elements of NARE process

21
NARE Evaluation Examples

• SQUG has compiled examples of NARE evaluations
  based on members use of the method
• NARE evaluation examples include
• Pump
• Damper
• Pressure gauge
• Panels
• Transformer inside a battery charger
• Ball valve
• Pressure regulator
• NARE evaluation examples serve to illustrate
• Key elements of NARE evaluation
• Appropriate level of detail, effort, and
  engineering judgment
• Approaches for documenting NARE evaluations

NARE evaluation examples are posted on SQUG web
site
22
NARE Support Program

• SQUG has in place the NARE Support Program
  designed to assist SQUG members in performing
  plant-specific NARE evaluations
• Steering Group provides oversight
• Protocol Chairman guides process on behalf
  members
• Members submit data needed for NARE evaluations
• SQUG Contractors perform NARE evaluations
• SQUG develops NARE examples from evaluations
• This program allows SQUG members to perform NARE
  evaluations
• Without developing plant-specific NARE procedures
• Without having trained personnel on staff to
  perform the NARE evaluations
• At minimal or no cost to support the SQUG
  contractors who perform the NARE evaluations

Details of NARE Support Program, including how
tointerface with SQUG, are posted on SQUG web
site
23
SQUG Support for Members Questions

• SQUG provides answers to members' questions on
  topics related to use of the SQUG methodology
  and seismic issues
• Communication methods for supporting members
• SQUG Web Site (http//squgweb.mpr.com/)
• SQUG List Server Members can communicate by
  email directly with all the other SQUG member
  representatives
• E-mail questions SQUG contractors provide rapid
  response to issues and questions of concern to
  SQUG members
• Telephone communication SQUG contractors
  provide rapid response to issues and questions of
  concern to SQUG members

24
Conclusion
For additional information contact Robert
Kassawara EPRI [phone] RKassawa_at_epri.com

• SQUG mission is to maintain the validity of and
  support and broaden the use of experience data as
  a cost-effective method for seismic qualification
  of equipment
• The goal of SQUG is to reduce the level of
  owners group effort necessary to maintain and
  use the GIP in the future
• To accomplish this mission and goal, SQUG
  provides members with an assortment of tools to
  help them fully implement and use earthquake and
  testing experience data