Method and system for optimizing a refueling outage schedule

Abstract

A method for optimizing a nuclear reactor refueling outage schedule using a computer system coupled to a database is provided. The method includes, in one embodiment, inputting into the computer system data relating to a current status of a nuclear reactor, with the reactor data including information related to current tooling, processes, and financial data; storing the reactor data in the database; and inputting into the computer system a proposed refueling outage schedule profile, with the outage schedule profile including critical path tasks and an estimated duration for each of the critical path tasks. The method further includes generating a gap analysis by comparing the proposed refueling outage schedule profile to a predetermined refueling outage schedule profile, where the predetermined schedule profile represents an optimum schedule; and determining the critical path tasks where adjustments to the task durations result in an optimized refueling outage schedule profile using the gap analysis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional schematic illustration, with parts cut away, of a boiling water nuclear reactor.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a system for optimizing a nuclear reactor refueling outage schedule in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an expanded version block diagram of an example embodiment of a server architecture of the system shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration of a database within the system shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow chart of a method for optimizing reactor refueling outage schedules in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing a nuclear reactor refueling outage schedule using a computer system coupled to a database, said method comprising: inputting into the computer system data relating to a current status of a nuclear reactor, the reactor data including information related to current tooling, processes, and financial data;storing the reactor data in the database;inputting into the computer system a proposed refueling outage schedule profile, the outage schedule profile including critical path tasks and an estimated duration for each of the critical path tasks;generating a gap analysis by comparing the proposed refueling outage schedule profile to a predetermined refueling outage schedule profile wherein the predetermined schedule profile represents an optimum schedule; anddetermining the critical path tasks where adjustments to the task durations result in an optimized refueling outage schedule profile using the gap analysis.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein determining the critical path tasks further comprises determining how the critical path tasks are adjusted to optimize the refueling outage schedule profile.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the database includes generic historical reactor data and historical reactor data related to a specific type of reactor.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the historical reactor data related to a specific type of reactor comprises information relating to tools and techniques used to perform optimized critical path tasks.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising displaying a graphical representation of the gap analysis.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising providing technical descriptions of the optimized critical path tasks for specific reactor types.

7. A network based system for optimizing a nuclear reactor refueling outage schedule, said system comprising: a user computer system comprising a browser;a centralized database; anda server system configured to be coupled to said user system and said database, said server system further configured to:receive, from a user, data relating to a current status of a nuclear reactor, the reactor data including information related to current tooling, processes, and financial data;store the reactor data in the database;receive, from a user, a proposed refueling outage schedule profile, the outage schedule profile including critical path tasks and an estimated duration for each of the critical path tasks;generate a gap analysis by comparing the proposed refueling outage schedule profile to a predetermined refueling outage schedule profile wherein the predetermined schedule profile represents an optimum schedule; anddetermine the critical path tasks where adjustments to the task durations result in an optimized refueling outage schedule profile using the gap analysis.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said server system is further configured to determine how the critical path tasks are adjusted to optimize the refueling outage schedule profile.

9. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said database includes generic historical reactor data and historical reactor data related to a specific type of reactor.

10. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the historical reactor data related to a specific type of reactor comprises information relating to tools and techniques used to perform optimized critical path tasks.

11. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said server system is further configured to display a graphical representation of the gap analysis.

12. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said server system is further configured to provide technical descriptions of the optimized critical path tasks for specific reactor types.

13. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for optimizing a nuclear reactor refueling outage schedule, said program comprising a code segment that: receives, from a user, data relating to a current status of a nuclear reactor, the reactor data including information related to current tooling, processes, and financial data;stores the reactor data in a database;receives, from a user, a proposed refueling outage schedule profile, the outage schedule profile including critical path tasks and an estimated duration for each of the critical path tasks;generates a gap analysis by comparing the proposed refueling outage schedule profile to a predetermined refueling outage schedule profile wherein the predetermined schedule profile represents an optimum schedule; anddetermines the critical path tasks where adjustments to the task durations result in an optimized refueling outage schedule profile using the gap analysis.

14. A computer program in accordance with claim 13 further comprising a code segment that determines how the critical path tasks are adjusted to optimize the refueling outage schedule profile.

15. A computer program in accordance with claim 13 wherein said database includes generic historical reactor data and historical reactor data related to a specific type of reactor.

16. A computer program in accordance with claim 13 wherein the historical reactor data related to a specific type of reactor comprises information relating to tools and techniques used to perform optimized critical path tasks.

17. A computer program in accordance with claim 13 further comprising a code segment that displays a graphical representation of the gap analysis.

18. A computer program in accordance with claim 13 further comprising a code segment that provides technical descriptions of the optimized critical path tasks for specific reactor types.