A new reliability assessment method for complex nuclear power equipment based on goal oriented methodology

This paper present s a new reliability assessment method for complex nuclear power equipment based on Goal Oriented (GO) method to evaluate Mean Time To Failures (MTTF). First, the new reliability assessment method is expounded in detail. And its process is formulated. Then, the electronic control system of hoisting mechanism in nuclear power plant is taken as an example to evaluate its MTTF by the new method. The reliability assessment processes are mainly as follows: (i) Conducting system analysis, (ii) Developing GO model, (iii) Selecting test unit by qualitative analysis of GO method, (iv) Collecting test data, (v) Estimating the failure rate of test unit, (vi) Evaluating system MTTF. In order to verify the advantages and rationality of the new reliability assessment method, the results are compared with the results by Monte Carlo method. All in all, this reliability assessment method not only improves the theory of GO method, which is only used to conduct reliability analysis before; but also provides a new approach for reliability assessment of complex nuclear power equipment, so than it can reduces costs, and improve estimating efficiency and accuracy.