Ageing of instrumentation and control (I&C) equipment at nuclear facilities has the potential to degrade mechanisms, which can in turn reduce safety margins and increase operating and maintenance costs. Obsolescence of I&C equipment can compound matters as suitable replacements become difficult to source. In 2019, the IAEA Technical Working Group on Nuclear Power Plant Instrumentation and Control acknowledged that relevant system and strategy guidance was required to implement modern technology at nuclear facilities. The purpose of this publication is to assist Member States in developing strategies to address ageing and obsolescence issues for I&C systems and it provides detail on modernization considerations and information from relevant recent operator experience. An appendix summarizes cable ageing management through condition monitoring, and several annexes describe Member States' practices and experience with l&C ageing management and modernization.

Covers all of the management activities related to modernization of I&C systems in nuclear power plants, including the evaluation of all I&C systems to determine which can be successfully maintained and which need to be modernized.

IAEA work in the area of research reactor operation and maintenance is aimed at enhancing the capabilities of Member States to utilize good engineering and management practices to improve research reactor reliability and availability. In particular, the IAEA supports activities addressing ageing management of research reactor instrumentation and control (I&C) systems. The purpose of this publication is to provide engineering guidance on the design, and operational aspects of digital I&C systems for the refurbishment of existing facilities and for new research reactors. Key areas addressed include codes and standards applicability, licensing issues, dealing with the change in human-system interface from analogue to digital technology, software verification and validation activities, periodic testing and inspection, and configuration management. The publication contains technical descriptions and summaries of available digital systems that have been utilized in both new research reactor designs, and in the upgrading of older analogue safety and control systems. This guidance is foreseen for the broad spectrum of research reactors types existing today.

Provides information on ageing, obsolescence and performance monitoring of those items of instrumentation and control equipment that are classified as safety equipment and/or safety related equipment, are operated in harsh environments in NPPs, and are important to plant life extension.

The scope of this publication covers all of the management activities related to modernization of I & C systems in nuclear power plants, including the evaluation of all I & C systems to determine which can be successfully maintained and which need to be modernized. It also includes large, comprehensive modernization programmes that will modernize a large number of I & C systems, small modernization programmes that will modernize a very few I & C systems, and all of the possibilities in-between. The scope covers highly integrated systems and projects as well as stand-alone systems and projects.

The ageing of structures, systems and components is one of the major challenges faced by nuclear fuel cycle facilities worldwide. This publication is intended to provide information on methods, approaches, practices and strategies for ageing management of nuclear fuel cycle facilities. It provides practical information on the establishment of effective ageing management programmes for nuclear fuel cycle facilities in the operational stage and on ageing management considerations in different stages in the lifetime of a nuclear fuel cycle facility. It also addresses the interface of ageing management with other technical areas and programmes, including maintenance, periodic testing and inspection, equipment qualification and configuration management. Best practice examples on how Member States are addressing ageing issues in nuclear fuel cycle facilities are also provided in this publication.

This publication describes a process for planning and conducting a project to implement digital instrumentation and control (I&C) systems in the modernization of a nuclear power plant (NPP). Many of the existing NPPs in the world are approaching, or have reached, the midpoint of their design life. At the same time, there have been tremendous advances in electronics, computers and networks. These new technologies have been incorporated into the digital I&C hardware and software currently available. Even though advanced digital I&C systems have been used extensively in many other industries, their use in the nuclear industry is still very limited. The complexity of digital I&C systems requires a comprehensive implementation plan to ensure that plant safety is maintained, and this publication presents the experience gained to date. It is intended to be of use to those involved in the design or implementation of such modernization projects.