Sustained Performance

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Sustained Performance in Radiation Protection
at Vogtle
Clark Bourne Plant Health Physicist Vogtle (USA)
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How did we get where we are?
Often times, it felt like
B r u t e F o r c e !
Every 0.1 mrem counts!
Passion!
Never give up!!!
I need more dose! I need more dose!
Indira says, No more dose for you, Buddy!
Tenacity!
Teamwork!
Knock on 1000 doors... maybe one will open!
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Key Factors for Sustained Performance

• Ownership Accountability
• Source Term Management
• Technology

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Key Factors for Sustained Performance
1) Ownership Accountability

• Management Commitment to be a top quartile
  performer
• Non-outage exposure
• Consistently trending down
• Every 0.1 mrem counts!
• Planning/Scheduling
• Work Execution through Lessons Learned
• Work Force Engagement
• Focus on Excellence
• Challenging/Aggressive Goal Setting
• Constant vigilance on What Could Go Wrong?
• Use of daily MELT
• Use of Operational Risk Awareness process

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Non-outage exposure
Routine RWP Exposure Trends
mrem
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Key Factors for Sustained Performance
1) Ownership Accountability (contd)

• Outage exposure
• Outage Scheduling
• Incorporates Lessons Learned into schedule
• HP takes the lead to include contingencies from
  industry Operating Experience and solicit support
  from appropriate groups
• e.g., core barrel lifts, CRDM volumetric
  inspections, pzr weld overlays, radiography
• Sensitivity and awareness that these events can
  happen to us!
• Planners sensitive to plant conditions that
  impact dose
• Contractor Incentives
• Dose is 20 of their performance score

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Key Factors for Sustained Performance
1) Ownership Accountability (contd)

• Outage exposure (contd)
• Mock-up training / Dry Runs for risk significant
  evolutions
• SG primary manways/diaphragms
• Nozzle dams
• HP surveys
• SG channel heads
• Under reactor head and reactor cavity
• SG vacuum bag change-outs
• Shielding installation
• Core barrel lifts
• Tri-nuke filter loading
• RCS filter change-outs
• Rx head EXCEL scaffolding
• CETNAs
• PZR SWOL

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Key Factors for Sustained Performance
2) Source Term Reduction

• Implemented EPRI Constant elevated pH program
  (7. 2)
• Zinc addition on both units
• AOA concerns on Unit 1 resulted in suspension of
  zinc for Cycle 13
• Approval to add Zn for full cycle received for
  both units
• Shutdown Chemistry Controls
• Repeatable performance each outage due to
  consistency and commitment to the process
• Constant vigilance to stay the course
• Use of macroporous resin in shutdown mixed bed
  demin
• Ultrasonic Fuel Cleaning 8 campaigns, 4 per
  unit
• Use of tri-nuke filtration in Rx cavity and SFP
• Use of 0.1 um filtration on RCS filter

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Key Factors for Sustained Performance
2) Source Term Reduction (contd)

• Shielding
• Permanent shielding support frames for SG
  handhole platforms
• Permanent reactor head shielding
• Radwaste Processing Facility design
• Design Changes to add several more permanent
  support frames in containment
• Storage of temporary lead shielding in
  containment
• Shielding is on Plants Major Issues List
• Temporary Shielding usage improvements
• Purchase of Radishield, head stand shielding for
  CRDM volumetric inspection, PZR SWOL applications

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Key Factors for Sustained Performance
3) Technology

• Examples of Integration of technology to support
  plant operations
• Identification of leakage inside bioshield at
  power via HP Robot
• Midloop sight glass and reactor cavity level
  monitored in the control room and OCC via HP
  cameras
• Core Barrel lifts directed through Central
  Monitoring Station
• 15 area monitoring teledosimeters used to monitor
  lift
• 10 camera views
• SNC Task Manager in Central direct
  communications with lift director in containment

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Key Factors for Sustained Performance
3) Technology (contd)

• Use of remote monitoring for high radiological
  risk tasks
• Normal operations
• Areas where Radiax antenna is available, have
  remote telemetry to Central Monitoring Station
• Radwaste liner/filter surveys
• Spent filter placement into liner
• Resin sluice monitoring
• Area monitoring for zinc injection trending
  outside containment
• Localized setup available for other areas (video,
  audio and telemetry)

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Key Factors for Sustained Performance
3) Technology (contd)

• Use of remote monitoring for high radiological
  risk tasks
• Outages
• All personnel in containment wear teledose
• Dose management effectiveness for high rad job
  coverage is quadrupled
• Permanent design change to wire camera, audio,
  and telemetry from inside containment all the way
  to Central Monitoring Station
• Added to system incrementally over past decade
• Other groups use the tools

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Key Factors for Sustained Performance
3) Technology (contd)

• Use of video/DVD/still pictures to record jobs
  for training and event reconstruction
• Acceptance of technology by HP techs and
  radworkers is the key to RMT success
• RMT has changed the persona of the HP tech
• Use of robotics
• HP has a robot for inspections inside bioshield
  at power
• Upper reactor head and under head inspections

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Key Factors for Sustained Performance
3) Technology (contd)

• Electronic Survey Mapping system
• Radiological Survey Mapping System (RadIS)
• Developed by SNC, Vogtle first to implement in
  2000
• Over 100,000 surveys electronically
  generated/approved and submitted to document
  control (completely paperless)
• iPIX photos available on maps showing 360º view
  of room
• Link between Radis and telemetry software allows
  area monitoring data to be displayed directly on
  survey maps

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Annual Site Exposure and Cycle Average (Rem/Unit)
- 2 outage year