NRC Introduces USWC Performance Indicator as Part of Nuclear Reactor Oversight Process
July 16, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS
This indicator tracks events that can increase the risk associated with a reactor's unplanned manual or automatic shutdowns, which are called scrams.
It will monitor conditions that could complicate a plant's scram recovery, including:
- Maintaining control over conditions needed for a chain reaction.
- Providing electricity to emergency systems.
- Activating emergency sources of cooling water.
- Maintaining availability of normal cooling water sources.
- Using emergency operating procedures to address complicated scrams.
Triggering any one of the criteria during an unplanned scram counts as an event, and two or more events in a 12-month period will result in increased oversight, according to NRC.
For more information about the USWC indicator, go to http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/unplanned-scrams-with-complications.html.
Source: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).