Technical Basis for Regulatory Guidance on Lightning Protection in Nuclear Power Plants (NUREG/CR-6866,ORNL/TM-2001/140)

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Publication Information

Manuscript Completed: May 2005
Date Published: January 2006

Prepared by:
P.D. Ewing, R.A. Kisner, K. Korsah,
M.R. Moore, J.B. Wilgen, R.T. Wood
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
P.O. Box 2008, Mail Stop 6085
Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6472
Managed by UT-Battelle, LLC

C.E. Antonescu, NRC Project Manager

Prepared for:
Division of Engineering Technology
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

NRC Job Code W6851

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Abstract

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been engaged by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) to develop the technical basis for regulatory guidance to address design and implementation practices for lightning protection systems in nuclear power plants (NPPs). With the advent of digital and low-voltage analog systems in NPPs, lightning protection is becoming increasingly important. These systems have the potential to be more vulnerable than older, analog systems to the resulting power surges and electromagnetic interference (EMI) when lightning hits facilities or power lines. This report documents the technical basis for guidance on the protection of nuclear power structures and systems from direct lightning strikes and the resulting secondary effects. Four Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards are recommended for endorsement to address issues associated with the lightning protection of nuclear power plants and their equipment and personnel: IEEE Std 665-1995 (R2001), IEEE Guide for Generating Station Grounding; IEEE Std 666-1991 (R1996), IEEE Design Guide for Electric Power Service Systems for Generating Stations, IEEE Std 1050-1996, IEEE Guide for Instrumentation and Control Equipment Grounding in Generating Stations; and IEEE Std C62.23-1995 (R2001), IEEE Application Guide for Surge Protection of Electric Generating Plants.