Think of this page as a beginner’s guide, or a simple how-to manual.
This page doesn’t list every article published on this website. It lists those that provide a fundamental understanding of some of the most basic concepts any electrical engineer starting out in the nuclear power industry should master as soon as possible in their career.
Stepping through the articles listed here, in the order presented, will give you a basic understanding of how the NRC impacts every plant design. You will also develop working knowledge of the standard electrical engineering design tasks — and how to do them.
STAY INFORMED
One of the first and easiest things you can do is to subscribe to the Twitter feeds of all the relevant US nuclear power plants. I have simplified that process by compiling the handles into a single location and creating a highly specific list you can subscribe to. You can access the Twitter handles and subscribe to the list by clicking here: All US Nuclear Plant Twitter Feeds. Monitoring this timeline is a good way to keep up with industry news on a daily basis.
1. Industry Background
NRC Regional Offices and Resident Inspectors
The NRC’s Budget and Income Streams
2. Rules and Regulations
The Most Common Licensing Basis Documents
A Brief Intro to the Tech Specs
A Simple Illustration of an LCO
Explaining the LCO Concept Using an Analogy
Power Plant “Modes” Explained Here
The Most Important Task Performed by the Tech Specs
Modifying the UFSAR with the 50.59 Process
The Definition of “Safety Related” Explained
Environmental Qualification Testing Standards
Redundancy and the Single-Failure Criterion
Diversity and Common-Mode Failures
3. Design Background
Things to Look For When Doing Initial Background Research
Four Things to Consider When Selecting New Equipment
The Difference Between Single-Line and Schematic Diagrams
Typical Design Details You Shouldn’t Overlook When Creating Schematic Diagrams
An Example Schematic Drawing I Created to Show Some Standard Symbols
4. Sizing Cables
Introduction to Cable Insulation Designations
Basic Cable Sizing and Ampacity Determination
Derating Cable Ampacity – Count the Ground or Neutral?
Multiconductor Cables – Ampacity Differences
A Five-Step Cable Sizing Procedure
The Importance of Limiting Voltage Drop
If Your Voltage Drop Calculation Fails
5. Selecting Protective Devices
Breaker Sizing and Short-Circuits
Some Basic Protective-Device Principles
A Breaker’s Primary Function and Electromagnetic Forces
Circuit Breaker Withstand Ratings and Overload Conditions
Three Fault Regions of a Time-Current Plot
Three Kinds of Protective Devices
Calculating Short-Circuit Currents by Hand
Short-Circuit Behaviors of 5 Types of Electrical Equipment
The Origin of a Generator’s Subtransient Reactance
6. Additional Design Considerations
Additional Conduit Design Concerns
6 Useful Tips for Making Better Wiring Diagrams
Some Non-Electrical Concerns to Take Into Account When Installing New Cables
Electrical, Civil, and Mechanical Risks When Creating New Wall Penetrations
7. Mod Packages
Tips For Writing Better Work Instructions