20
Most important, these performance gains came with equally impressive
improvements in safety indicators. For instance, the number of unusual events
reported to the US NRC dropped from 151 in 1990 to just 18 in 2002. The
challenge for individual nuclear stations is to continue this momentum by
solidifying competitive gains already achieved and squeezing further
improvements from each unit.
US nuclear plants have done an excellent job of maintaining and
improving plant design margins and operating reliability. Extensive monitoring
and surveillance testing of plant systems, structures and components such as
containment building, reactor vessel, reactor cooling system pressure boundary,
steam generators, pressurizer, piping, pump casings, and valve bodies are
performed yearly to verify the plant is maintained in excellent condition. Few if
any nuclear plant components will require replacement specifically to achieve
extended operation for an additional 20 years.
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