Vendor Provision for Operations and Maintenance: A Route to Nuclear Excellence

Abstract

The CANDU pressurized heavy water design has been established over three decades of operation. Historically CANDU has been developed by a successful partnership between AECL, the designer and developer, and the operating utilities. Maintaining good performance of a nuclear power plant is primarily the responsibility of the owner operator; but there is a common interest between the design organization and the operator in achieving good performance. AECL is emphasizing activities and partnerships to provide engineering and Research and Development (R and D) to reduce operating costs for new plants and support existing plants. Among these are: a comprehensive, structured process to deal with project, operations and other feedback; teams to study issues with impact on capacity factor and OM&A cost and identify initiatives in response; an integrated plant life management program in conjunction with CANDU 6 utilities; and strategic information technology products installed at the plants in support of improved station operation, sponsored by the CANDU Owner's Group. The breadth of these programs gives AECL a unique ability to link between support to operating plants, and the development of improved Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) designs for the future.