Improved Thermal Performance Through Data Validation and Reconciliation - MTA-EN-006-R1

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Administrative Items
Date	12/14/2021
Functional Area Where Benefits Will Be Realized	Engineering Operations Maintenance
Reference Implementation Guidance	Program on Technology Innovation: Evaluation of Data Reconciliation Methods for Power Recovery (EPRI 3002005345) Using Data Validation Techniques to Evaluate the Impact of Chemical Addition at Nuclear Power Plants: Effects of Polyacrylic Acid and Online Noble Metal Injections on Steam Side Parameters (EPRI 3002013194) Guidance for Implementing a Data Validation and Reconciliation Program at Nuclear Power Plants (EPRI 3002013197) 2020 TIP Award Data Validation and Reconciliation (ID: 13344057)
Industry SME	EPRI PRR Contact: NuclearPlantMod@epri.com
Previous Implementation	This improvement has been implemented at several nuclear plants. Please contact the EPRI SME for additional information.
Implementation Enablers	The proper plant instrumentation must be installed prior to implementation of DVR. It is expected that most plants will already have the proper instrumentation installed as a part of the current balance-of-plant heat cycle measurements. See Reference Implementation Guidance for guidance on how to validate the proper instrumentation is installed.
Applicability	All reactor types All geographic regions
Keywords	DVR; core thermal power; CTP calculation; feedwater flow; power recovery
Business Case Analysis Cross-Reference	Plant Modernization Business Case: Improved Thermal Performance Through Data Validation and Reconciliation: Cost‑Benefit Analysis of DVR Analysis for Power Recovery or Measurement Uncertainty Recapture Uprates (EPRI 3002019845).

Description

Nuclear plants perform Core Thermal Power (CTP) calculations to ensure the plant is operating within the licensed thermal limitations at all times. The CTP calculation uses various instrument inputs, the most significant input being feedwater flow measurements. It is common for feedwater flow measurement devices, such as venturis, to experience fouling, which results in erroneous flow measurement inputs to the CTP calculation. As a result, the calculated CTP may be greater than the actual core power, forcing the plant to operate under‑powered. Data Validation and Reconciliation (DVR) can be used to reconcile instrument values and reduce the uncertainty in the CTP calculation.

DVR software models use statistical analysis of various plant instruments to solve for error values in measurements of feedwater flow and CTP. The DVR results can be used to support calibration of plant instruments to help reduce under‑power operation and to support the transition from time‑based maintenance to condition‑based maintenance of feedwater flow components and systems. Under the 10 CFR 50.59 process, DVR can be used for power recovery, with a potential recoverable MW range from approximately 3 to 5 MWe per unit. The potential recoverable MW may be greater depending on the extent the plant is already incurring CTP losses due to feedwater measures.

Current MUR uprates are based on the use of ultrasonic flow meters (UFMs) for feedwater measurement. Implementation of DVR can provide equivalent or more accurate measurement than UFMs and, therefore, replace UFMs to support MUR. Plants that pursue a MUR uprate as a result of implementing DVR for CTP calculations can expect a potential recoverable MW range from 12‑18 MWe per unit. The use of DVR for MUR is not currently in the scope of this MTA.

Benefits

Benefits Estimate

Level 1 – Savings are less than $1 million per year, per unit. Estimated savings range from approximately $600K‑$1 M per year, per unit depending on the recoverable MWe. Savings are largely driven by the price of power based on the market and time of year.

Benefits Description

• Reduce vulnerability to single‑point measurement errors.
• Reduce uncertainty in CTP calculation.
• Recover power losses due to errors in feedwater flow measurements.
• Reduce labor hours by supporting the transition to condition‑based maintenance for required equipment inspections and instrument calibrations.

Costs and Schedule

Cost

Level 3 – Implementation cost is less than $1 million per unit. Costs range from $200K‑$500K per unit, with the higher cost including the design change process to use DVR for power recovery. Ongoing costs for software licensing, model maintenance, and data‑analysis labor are approximately $10K‑$30K per year.

Schedule

Less than six months per unit. DVR can be installed online and takes a few months to develop each model.

Scope Context

Per unit.

Initial implementation costs include purchase of software from the vendor, training, IT labor, and engineering labor to utilize the software. Ongoing costs include the cost of the software licensing, the costs associated with maintenance of the DVR model, and the labor costs associated with the data analysis.

Risks

There is a regulatory risk if a unit is taken above CTP limits when DVR is implemented for power recovery. During the planning phase, plants should leverage the implementation guidance to ensure they are outfitted with the proper instrumentation for the DVR software, noting that the more data input for the DVR model, the better the results.

SWEEP Score

Category	Level	Description
Cost	3	Implementation cost is less than $1 million per unit. Costs range from $200K‑$500K, with the higher cost including the design change process to use DVR for power recovery. Ongoing software licensing, model maintenance, and data‑analysis labor are approximately $10K‑$30K per year.
Savings	1	Savings are less than $1 million per year, per unit. Estimated savings range from $600K-$1M per year, per unit depending on the recoverable MWe. Savings are largely driven by the price of power based on the market and time of year.
Payback	2	Payback period is greater than one year but less than five years, typically around 2 years.
Licensing Readiness	3	This technology has already been implemented at a nuclear site for power recovery.
Technology Readiness	3	No regulatory changes are required for implementation. Utilities can implement DVR for power recovery under 10 CFR 50.59 process.
Implementation Proficiency	3	The technology can be implemented by all sites, regardless of digital experience.