Smart CANDU - Predicting to Improve Plant Performance

Abstract

Nuclear power plants are designed for safety and performance, but as systems and components age performance inevitably declines. Operations and maintenance staff are called upon on a daily basis to make operational decisions and take mitigative action to reverse the affects of plant aging and achieve optimal plant performance. This paper describes selected applications of SMART CANDU Operations and Maintenance support software to illustrate how diagnostic tools and predictive models imbedded in the software enable engineers and operators to make proactive and informed decisions to manage and improve plant performance.