Ultra Electronics has been working within the nuclear industry managing the effects of ageing and obsolescence for the last 30 years.

 

The business has a team of Suitably Qualified and Experienced Personnel (SQEP) engineering and design professionals and maintains links to component manufacturing and distribution organisations and has full in house test and validation facilities. Together, these professional staff and the supporting infrastructure it is very well placed to address most of the ageing and obsolescence issues that arise.

 

 

Ultra has developed a methodology for the identification and analysis of ageing and obsolete components and sub-systems within a fleet of operating nuclear power plants.

 

This methodology is based on the development of graphically based architectures (models) of the existing C&I systems within the fleet. This allows data to be rapidly produced and provides a consistent structure for the assignment of the status of each element of the control system (system to component).

 

The methodology allows simple and quick reports to be produced to identify for example, equipment across the fleet that are at risk from common issues e.g. inadequate repair loop, power supply fluctuations, ageing capacitors, performance drift. 

 

To facilitate the gathering of this data Ultra Electronics have developed an enhanced Plant walk-down process specifically targeting Ageing and Obsolete of I&C. The I&C walk-down document prompts the engineering analysts to review key risk areas through visual inspection of installed, faulty and stored equipment, review of associated documentation and interviewing key stakeholders.