Methodology assessment: an overview of the Qualification Testing Evaluation (QTE) Program

Methodology assessment is required to assure that the qualification testing applied to nuclear power plant safety systems is both realistic and conservative. This task is carried on throughout the nuclear industry, but NRC, through contracts with independent laboratories, has the principal role. Evaluating test methodologies poses problems for the laboratories because testing Class 1E equipment in new situations may produce component failures. Such failures have potential economic, regulatory, and political ramifications for the nuclear industry and, therefore, careful consideration of program policy is required. An example of a methodology assessment program is the Qualification Testing Evaluation (QTE) Program supported by NRC at Sandia Laboratories. The program's scope encompasses: (1) assessment of LOCA testing methodologies including synergistic effects of combined environments and effects of test procedure; (2) determination of the radiation environment from accidents and its impact on the adequacy of radiation simulators; and (3) modeling of natural aging processes and their simulation by accelerated aging methods including synergistc effects of combined environments.