| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 297905 | Nuclear Engineering and Design | 2011 | 8 Pages |
A reliability analysis of nuclear component cooling water (NCCW) system is carried out. Semi-Markov process model is used in the analysis because it has potential to solve a reliability block diagram with a mixture of repairable and non-repairable components. With Markov models it is only possible to assume an exponential profile for component failure times. An advantage of the proposed model is the ability to assume Weibull distribution for the failure time of components. In an attempt to reduce the number of states in the model, it is shown that usage of poly-Weibull distribution arises. The objective of the paper is to determine system failure probability under these assumptions. Monte Carlo simulation is used to validate the model result. This result can be utilized as an initiating event probability in probabilistic safety assessment projects.
Research highlights► Semi-Markov process (SMP) model is used to evaluate system failure probability of the nuclear component cooling water (NCCW) system. ► SMP is used because it can solve reliability block diagram with a mixture of redundant repairable and non-repairable components. ► The primary objective is to demonstrate that SMP can consider Weibull failure time distribution for components while a Markov model cannot ► Result: the variability in component failure time is directly proportional to the NCCW system failure probability. ► The result can be utilized as an initiating event probability in probabilistic safety assessment projects.
