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The nuclear power quality assurance system of The Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.
(KHNP) is being developed to fit to the reality in the country based on domestic & foreign
requirements for quality assurance in relation to nuclear power, observing the Atomic Energy Act.
The system is divided into three (3) divisions, a construction area, an operation area,
and medium/low level RWDF (Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility) considering the system of the Atomic
Energy Act and business characteristics of each area. Each QAM (Quality Assurance Manual)
has been prepared and implemented for these areas. The quality assurance system related to
the nuclear power industry is outlined as follows:
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| Safety Relate (Q) |
- The items or services related to nuclear reactors and the safety of nuclear reactors may directly or indi rectly
cause radiation troubles for the general public if any breakdown or defect occurs.
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| Safety Impact (T) |
- The items or services that may affect the functions of safety-related plant features if any breakdown or defect
occurs.
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| Reliability-Critical (R) |
- The items or services that will not affect the safety of nuclear reactors even if breakdowns or defects occur but
will significantly affect facility reliability because their breakdowns or defects will affect the operation of electric
power facilities or require large-scale restoration works.
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| General Industry (S) : Industrial standard |
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- The items or services that do not fall under any of Q, T, R grades above.
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| Quality Related Grade (AQ : Augmented Quality) |
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- The SSC (Structures, Systems and Components) that affect the quality of RWDF.
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| Non-quality related grade (Non-Q) |
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- The equipment other than those under AQ grade
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As for domestic nuclear power quality assurance, the quality assurance system that
had been applied by nuclear power industry in the USA was introduced, along with the
commencement of the construction of Kori unit #1 NPP(Nuclear Power Plant) in Jun.
1970 and thereby ASME NQA-1&2 were applied as quality assurance requirements.
With the participations and efforts of government, the industry and academic laboratories
toward technical independence in the electric power industry, KEPCO, KHNP and Korea Electricity
Association have led the development of the KEPIC (Korea Electric Power Industry Code).
Through these efforts, technical standards for six (6) fields, such as quality assurance,
mechanical, electrical, structural, nuclear power, and fire protection, have been developed.
Accordingly, the domestic nuclear power industry began to apply the unique KEPIC Quality
Assurance Program (QAP) instead of the quality assurance requirements of ASME NQA-1 that
had been applied until then. KEPIC was partially applied to Ulchin unit #5,6 NPP for the first time.
It has been fully applied to Shin Kori unit #1,2 and Shin Wolsong unit #1,2 and thereafter.
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| The quality assurance standards of KHNP |
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KHNP established and is implementing the quality assurance requirements by adding purchasers' quality
assurance requirements to the quality assurance requirements regulated by government for the quality
assurance and this is essential to secure the safety and reliability of NPPs. In particular, the quality
assurance requirements are differently applied according to quality grade classifications (Q, T, R, S)
as detailed below.
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| A) Q grade quality assurance standards: |
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| (1) In the case of the components falling under ASME B & PV Code Section III, |
| - the requirements under ASME B & PV Code Section III NCA 4000 and ASME NQA-1 shall apply |
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| (2) In the case of the materials falling under ASME B & PV Code Section III, |
| - the requirements under ASME B & PV Code Section III NCA 3800 shall apply |
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| (3) In the case of the components falling under KEPIC MN, |
| - the requirements under KEPIC MNA 4000 and KEPIC QAP shall apply |
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| (4) In the case of the materials falling under KEPIC MN, |
| - the material quality system requirements under KEPIC MNA 4000 shall apply |
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| (5) In the case of the safety items not falling under above items (1), (2), (3) and (4), |
- the nuclear power quality assurance standard requirements under ASME NQA-1 / KEPIC-QAP or
other
nuclear power quality assurance standard requirements that are internationally in use shall
apply
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| B) T, R grade quality assurance standards |
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Internally, T, R grade items are managed based on KHNP's own QAM and externally, those items are
managed based on separate Quality Procurement Specifications (QPS) in which 18 quality assurance
requirements for T, R grades have been established based on Q grade quality assurance standards.
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| C) S grade quality assurance standards |
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The supplies of general industrial items (S) do not require establishments of separate QAM but
require the implementations of quality assurance activities based on item characteristics and relevant
contracted scopes of supplies.
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Because the construction and operation of RWDF is a project that is being implemented for the first
time in Korea, there were no quality assurance standards established. So the new program has been
established based on Korean laws and practices in foreign countries.
Domestic quality grades for RWDF were determined to be operated on two levels, which are quality
related grade (AQgrade, Augmented-Q) and non-quality related grade (NQ grade) based on the practices
of applications in foreign countries and the requirement that "the regulatory requirements apply to
the items to meet the performance objectives and limit the exposure to or release of radioactivity"
in NUREG-1293.
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| Quality assurance standards |
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| A) Quality assurance standards for AQ grade |
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| (1) MOST Notice no. 1992-17 |
| (2) NUREG -1293 |
| (3) Refer to the implementation standards in KEPIC QAP/ASME NQA |
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B) NQ grade Although its own QAM is not required, quality assurance activities are necessary in cases
where it
is required by regulatory requirements and design requirements
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