The guidelines provide 66 recommendations for a successful startup program, drawn from 30 experienced startup professionals representing 210 years of global experience.

Many of the startup strategies, technical knowledge, protocols and lessons learned from the commercial deployment of today's existing nuclear fleet were not captured when these plants came online. Moreover, many of the startup engineers involved in these projects are now retiring or leaving the industry. To capture the elements of a successful startup program, EPRI worked with 30 experienced startup engineers with a combined 210 years of global experience.

The recommendations identified by this group are compiled in a recent EPRI report from the Advanced Nuclear Technology program, Startup Program Guideline—Lessons Learned (report number 1023005). An appendix to the report provides a detailed overview of the startup organization and strategies employed by Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Company, which is currently active in the startup testing of four nuclear units.

The 66 startup program recommendations were categorized into seven areas:

1. Testing Procedures, Strategies, Techniques and Technologies (31 recommendations)
2. Integration of Construction and Startup Schedules (2 recommendations)
3. Startup and Operating Equipment Performance Data (10 recommendations)
4. Integrated Plant Testing and Turnover for Operation (4 recommendations)
5. Personnel Considerations (11 recommendations)
6. Key Processes (5 recommendations)
7. Equipment Maintenance During Startup (3 recommendations)

One of the most common recommendations for overall project success concerns the transition of plant activity control from Construction to Startup and finally to Operations as the project draws to completion. A smooth transition occurs when senior executives of the Construction, Startup and Operations organizations recognize the need for this plant activity control and work together to make it a reality (see figure).

Not all of the recommendations in the report are intended to be implemented by future startup organizations. The purpose of the report was to capture lessons learned from experienced startup professionals so these lessons could be evaluated and implemented where appropriate during future startups.

For more information, contact Lee Rogers at 772.288.4369 or lrogers@epri.com.