Print this page Environmental Qualification of Safety Related Electrical Equipment
Course Outline
This three hour course is a full introduction to the subject of environmental qualification of electrical equipment for nuclear reactors. Critical components necessary to safely shut down a reactor following an accident must be assured to function in the harsh conditions that will be present. This course describes the basics of environmental qualification testing, the history of the topic and how the laws governing environmental qualification evolved. The industry standard for testing, IEEE 323, is explained along with the Federal requirements. The course also provides a plan for establishing an EQ program.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to
enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning Objective
Upon completion of this course the student will have an understanding of the following concepts associated with the environmental qualification of safety related electrical equipment for nuclear power plants.
- What is Environmental Qualification (EQ)?
- The history of the Environmental Qualification rule-making;
- 10 CFR 50.49 the Federal Requirements;
- IEEE 323 “IEEE Standard for Qualifying Class 1 Equipment for Nuclear Power Plants”;
- What the industry learned from EQ;
- Relationship of various EQ standards; and
- How to establish an EQ Program.
Course Introduction
Commercial nuclear power plants were designed in the United States with a design philosophy of defense in depth. Part of that defense is to house the nuclear reactor in a containment building which is built of steel and concrete several feet thick. In the unlikely event of a significant accident in a nuclear power plant (such as a large pipe break in the reactor coolant system), a harsh environment of steam, radiation, high temperatures, high pressures and chemicals will be released into the containment building. Essential equipment necessary to mitigate the effects of this accident must be able to survive the harsh environment long enough to perform their intended safety function. The rigorous demonstration of the ability to do this is the subject of environmental qualification.
Course Content
The course content is in a PDF file:
Environmental Qualification of Safety Related Electrical Equipment.
You need to open or download above documents to study this course.
Course Summary
The accident at Three Mile Island in 1979 changed the course of the nuclear power industry in the United States. This serious accident brought about numerous new regulations that have led to a much higher degree of safety in the operation of these plants, as evidenced by the operating records of the United States plants in the twenty-five years since the accident. Although regulatory interest was already present in the NRC on the subject of Environmental Qualification of Safety Related Electrical Equipment, the winds of change from the accident at Three Mile Island gave this area of nuclear safety the added focus it needed. Another of the lessons learned from the Three Mile Island accident is that the operators in the control room should let the emergency systems perform their automatic functions to the maximum extent possible during and after an accident. Intervention by the operator should generally only occur when an automatic system fails to perform its function. In this unlikely event at a nuclear plant today, the plant operators can be assured that the safety related electrical equipment will perform its intended function, allowing for the prompt mitigation of the event.
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
