Lessons Learned in Providing Long-Term Field Support for Special Purpose Instrumentation: The Barringer Deuterium Analyzer Experience

Abstract

Leak detection For Inventory Protection: The CANDU nuclear reactor requires several special purpose instrumentation systems that are unique to CANDU and not widely applicable to any other industry. Many of these systems were developed in AECL laboratories or under contract in private industry, at a time when the projected expansion of the nuclear industry would provide a large enough market to financially justify transfer of the technology to private industry for manufacture and long-term support. Although the manufacturing capability was easily transferred, the capability to provide long-term support was less so. With the downsizing of CANDU business in the seventies, industry found it uneconomical to establish or maintain a long-term support capability, and over the following years, staff turnover resulted in the initial resource and knowledge investment being lost. At the same time, utility operators were faced with maintaining these systems for an operational life of thirty years. An example of one such system is the Barringer D20 Analyzer. This paper will review the experience in supporting these instruments in field operation and discuss the lessons learned from the developer, manufacturer and operator perspectives. A strategy to protect industry investment in future cases will be outlined.