Upgrading Planning and Executive Strategy for Reactor Protection System and Relative Equipment in Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant

Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant (QNPP) is the first nuclear power plant in China which completed the reactor protection system (RPS) upgrading with new digital safety instrumentation and control (I&C) platform instead of original analog system. At the same time, the nuclear instrumentation system (NIS) was upgraded with the same digital I&C platform. For adapting QNPP’s actual engineering situation, the upgrading planning was taken by comprehensively investigating current development and application of digital safety I&C platform in the worldwide scope and by reviewing plant’s original systems operation history. The project executive strategy-QNPP’s leading role with necessary overseas cooperation and internal technical supports as great as possible, was determined. Some significant factors might influence and restrict the RPS and relative equipment upgrading executive actions in an operating NPP were analyzed. Finally, the engineering feasibility was briefly assessed to recognize the anticipated issues and difficulties and to prepare the relative solutions in advance for the purpose of ensuring the RPS upgrading objectives completely realized.