ABSTRACT
The systems and equipment used in nuclear power plants are sophisticated, complex, difficult to maintain and costly. They must operate for long periods of time without a serious failure and must have a very long total life. Furthermore, the physical environment in nuclear plants is very severe and can have a serious detrimental effect on the equipment, especially on complex mechanical and electronic components. High temperatures, vibration, high humidity, corrosive fluids and gases all take a toll on electromechanical devices and electronic components. Also, a large portion of the equipment must operate remotely after startup and depend on human operators for operation and control. These and other application factors make it essential that special attention be applied during acquisition to ensure the actual operational reliability of the equipment used in nuclear power plants.
