Session: OAC-07-01 OAC Ageing and Plant Life Management

Paper Number: 121885

121885 - Nuclear Energy Agency's Perspective for International Cooperation on Plant Operating Life Extension Through Efficient Ageing Management 

Aiming for net zero CO₂ emissions by 2050 is a major goal for the entire international community. To achieve this ambitious goal, the international community must work to extend the operating period of existing nuclear power plants. Many Nuclear Power Plants have reached or are reaching their originally designed 40 or 60 years of operation and have started working towards the extension of their operating period. Effective ageing management programs are one of the indispensable elements of the safe and reliable operation of ageing installations. Several international operating experiences for Nuclear Power Plants beyond 40 years of life already exist, but more international research activities on degradation mechanisms on ageing components are needed to confirm the continued adequacy of current aging management practices which support long term operation.  

The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency’s (NEA) specific areas of competence include the safety and regulation of nuclear activities, integrity, and ageing of components and structures. In particular, for the preparation of long term operations beyond 60 years, the NEA advocates identifying the necessary scientific basis and promoting joint safety research efficiently through international cooperation. Studying the ageing mechanisms of systems, components, and materials through international cooperation is a highly beneficial activity for all stakeholders. Sharing experiences, experimental facilities, and maintaining costs for those resources are the most effective ways to achieve them promptly.

As well as the effective use of research facilities, it is also necessary to consider the use of harvesting materials form decommissioned plants. Several Nuclear Power Plants have recently been shut down and are being decommissioned. Harvesting material aged under actual operating conditions could provide material with long operation histories, corresponding to up to 30 years of full operation. Harvesting material in plants is unparalleled in providing prototypical materials for use in developing ageing management strategies related to support extended reactor operation beyond 60 years.

An overview of the NEA's international project for long term operation (gathering /analysing operational experience data, gap analysis of current knowledge, examination of research themes utilising harvesting materials) is reported, and challenges and perspectives for future activities are provided.

Presenting Author: Keiko Chitose OECD Nuclear Energy Agency

Presenting Author Biography: Dr Keiko CHITOSE, Nuclear Safety Specialist at OECD/Nuclear Energy Agency - since September 2021.
In her present role, Dr Chitose is primarily managing and providing support to the Working Group on Integrity and Ageing of Components and Structures (WGIAGE) and its subgroups. She has more than 35 years of experience in nuclear safety research, engineering and safety assessment for licensing application. Prior to her current position she had worked at Japan Nuclear Safety Institute as Senior Manager of risk management department, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as section head of risk assessment engineering section. She is an executive committee member of Women in Nuclear Global, a member of American Nuclear Society and Atomic Energy Society of Japan.　Dr. Chitose holds a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from Tokyo City University and Waseda University.

Authors:

Keiko Chitose OECD Nuclear Energy Agency
Didier Jacquemain OECD Nuclear Energy Agency