G. Bollini, Tecnatom SA, Madrid, Spain; A. Sala, Iberdrola SA, Madrid, Spain
ABSTRACT
The qualification requirements of in-service inspection systems in Nuclear Power Plants were originated with the publication of Appendix VIII of Section XI of the ASME Code in 1986. Later, in the year 1992, the countries of the European Union created the European Network for Inspection Qualifications (ENIQ), under the co-ordination of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of Petten, Holland, and in 1995, the document "The European Methodology for Inspection Qualification" was published (which would later be revised in 1997) which harmonized the position of the countries of Europe with regard to the subject of qualifying validating inspection systems. On the other hand, the European Regulating Bodies formed a Working Group to harmonized their position and, in 1995 (revised in 1997) they published the document "Common Position of European Regulators on qualification of NDT systems for pre- and in-service inspection of light water reactor components". The position of the European Regulating Bodies concerning qualification was very similar to the stance of the ENIQ. The Spanish Nuclear Power Plants, began a project in October 1997 to define the Spanish Methodology for the qualification of in-service inspection systems. The document "Qualification Methodology of In-service Inspection Systems in Spanish Nuclear Power Plants" has been drawn up (Rev. 1 of 16/03/98) which has been discussed with the Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear in various joint meetings and agreement has been reached on the proposals contained therein. The methodology of the qualification designed bears in mind the principles defined by ENIQ together with the fact that the in-service inspections of Spanish Nuclear Power Plants is regulated by the application of Section XI of the ASME Code. The application of the qualification methodology has been developed in a set of six Technical Documents, which are currently being drawn up, and which are due to be completed this year.
Publication Source: First International Conference on NDE in Relation to Structural Integrity for Nuclear and Pressurised Components , 20 - 22 October 1998, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Held by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. Publisher:Woodhead Publishing Limited
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