Towards safe long-term operation of reactor pressure vessels

This paper summarizes long-term operation conditions in European nuclear power plants. Recommendations for monitoring the radiation embrittlement of reactor pressure vessels during life extension periods (to 60 or 80 years) are presented. The guidelines were developed in the EURATOM FP7 project LONGLIFE. The work performed responds to the need for guidance to treat long term irradiation effects within the ageing management of NPPs, since the standard RPV surveillance programmes were designed for a time period of 40 years. In particular the following issues are addressed: re-use of tested surveillance speciems, transferability of material test reactor results to reactor operation conditions, extension of reactor pressure vessel surveillance programmes, withdrawal schemes for lon-term operation surveillance programmes.