ML23292A092
| ML23292A092 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/30/2023 |
| From: | Christopher Cook NRC/RES/DE |
| To: | |
| Chris Cook 301-415-6397 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML23292A090 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML23292A092 (13) | |
Text
Advanced Sensors and Instrumentation
- NRC Research Status Update Christopher B. Cook Branch Chief Instrumentation, Controls, and Electrical Engineering Branch Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Email: Christopher.Cook@nrc.gov October 30, 2023 Advanced Sensors and Instrumentation FY23 Annual Program Review Meeting
Key Messages
- Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research staff research and support current and future NRC activities related to Instrumentation and Controls (I&C).
- New sensor technologies are applicable for both modernizing the operating reactor fleet as well as advanced reactors.
- Staff are proactively looking at these technologies to be ready for the future.
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Regulatory Importance in Current NPPs Plant Systems Control Actuators Controller (Digital/Analog)
Sensors Desired/Designed Parameters Sensors are the center of I&C System Designs and Licensed Operation (Tech Specs) 3
Example Future Use/Need?: Digital Twins
[source: TLR-RES/DE/REB-2023-02 at ML23058A085]
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Example Future Use/Need?: AI/ML
[source: NUREG-2261 at ML23132A305]
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Instrumentation & Controls Regulatory Framework Part 50/52: Staff are implementing the vision to develop an integrated strategy to modernize the NRCs I&C regulatory infrastructure.
Part 53: The staff developed rule package was sent to the Commission on March 1, 2023, with a request to approve and publish the draft proposed rule in the Federal Register for comment. It remains with the Commission.
https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/digital/modernize.html https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/advanced/rulemaking-and-guidance/part-53.html 6
Current Regulatory Touchpoints:
10 CFR 52.47(a)(13): FSAR must include The list of electric equipment important to safety that is required by 10 CFR 50.49(d). This subsection pertains to Environmental Qualification of electric equipment important to safety for nuclear power plants. See also RG 1.89.
RG 1.97: Starting with Rev 4 of RG 1.97, new instrumentation systems in advanced nuclear power plant designs for severe accident conditions were specified using performance-based criteria to select instrument variables that are needed. This increases flexibility and avoids prescribing the specific variables to be monitored.
Regulatory Touchpoints (BTP 7-10): sensor types and range, redundancy, allowable deviations, instrument power, and pointers to other guides (e.g., BTP 7-12 on set points), etc...
Standard Review Plan, Chapter 7:
https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr0800/ch7/index.html 7
Current Branch Research:
Sensor-Intensive Activities
- Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (AI/ML) research for cybersecurity
- Autonomous Control + Remote (Operation and Monitoring) Techniques
- Wireless safety and security 8
AI/ML Research: FFR for Cybersecurity Perform future focused research (FFR) to assess feasibility of AI/ML to identify, characterize, and differentiate nuclear states.
Example event progression 9
Autonomous Control +
Remote (Operation and Monitoring) Techniques 10
- Motivation/purpose includes:
- Document existing standards and best-practice guidelines on standardized use of autonomous + remote techniques for ICS
- Document insights from technical subject matter experts on additional/changing attack vectors and how to mitigate their risk.
- Develop the technical basis to characterize autonomous
+ remote techniques using a multidimensional framework
Wireless:
Safety and Security
- Security:
Research on cybersecurity insights from other safety-critical industries.
- Safety:
Review of EMI and RFI from modern wireless technologies. Supports conclusions in RG 1.180, Rev 2.
Report in final internal review.
[source: ML22180A008]
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Conclusions
- Research staff activities are worked in coordination with program office staff to produce timely and useful products.
- Technology readiness level and licensees plans for proposed use of new sensor technologies factor into research topics.
- Activities are aligned to complement DOE-funded research for differences in mission, purpose, and scope.
- Research staff use MOUs, standards organizations, public meetings and international forums to calibrate internal priorities and enable NRC readiness for timely review of future submittals.
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Questions?
and an announcement that the NRC is HIRING!
Openings are available here:
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