Safety and Reliability Technology ERIN Engineering and Research, Inc. (ERIN), an SKF Group Company, has been a premier practitioner of probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) methods. ERIN provides clients with PRA support ranging from updates and model enhancement to the development of risk-based applications, such as accident management plans, test and inspection prioritization, regulatory alternatives identification, and cost reduction alternatives development. |
| Safety and Security for Terrorism Threats ERIN is the industry leader in applying risk and engineering insights to nuclear security issues involving potential terrorist attack. Combining our unique risk assessment capability with our severe accident management experience, fire hazard analysis and accident sequence progression analysis capability, we have evaluated a variety of terrorist threat scenarios and identified mitigation strategies for nuclear power plants in response to potential threats. Our ongoing work includes analysis and evaluation of nuclear power plant security threats for the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and evaluation of emergency planning (EP) activities in response to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposed guidance on “fast breaking” events. In addition, ERIN has a wide customer base in the oil, natural gas, chemical, and other process industries. That knowledge enables us to use risk technologies honed in the nuclear industry applications to other types of facilities. The use of risk insights in the security arena allows decision makers to make better use of finite resources to limit the risks from terrorist attack. |
Full Scope PRA SupportERIN has assisted numerous clients in developing full-scope PRAs in response to the requirement for an Individual Plant Examination (IPE). ERIN has also supported External Events evaluations. Our teams service many clients with PRA model updates ranging from the addition of balance of plant systems, failure rate data updates, to the highly specialized area of MAAP analysis. ERIN has played a key role in developing PRA certification standards for nuclear power plants and has served on several certification teams. ERIN software used in these areas includes the REVELATION™ software program and the BART™ Workstation. The REVELATION program, part of the EPRI Risk and Reliability Workstation, can be used to translate large cumbersome or highly detailed PRA results into useful and understandable reports and graphs. The BART Workstation is an MS Excel add-in that performs Bayesian analysis in support of PRA database updates. |
Risk-Informed Solutions and ApplicationsBecause of extensive experience in PRA development and support, ERIN is a recognized leader in PRA applications. ERIN is a primary author of the industry standard PSA Applications Guide published by EPRI. Our teams have provided risk-informed solutions to extend emergency diesel generator Technical Specification allowed outage time, to provide guidance for setting Maintenance Rule performance criteria, as well as to assist in prioritizing motor operated valve testing and in-service piping inspection. ERIN is spearheading the movement to make in-service piping inspections a risk-informed process. The MARKOVPlus™ workstation applies an innovate approach for risk-informed in-service inspection of piping. |
Accident Management StrategiesERIN has extensive experience in the development of Technical Support Guidelines to provide guidance and tools that enhance accident management response. ERIN has also assisted clients in the development of Table Top drills and training to complete the plant staff's implementation of the Accident Management program. ERIN also has experience evaluating IPE insights with regards to Accident Management strategies. |
Plant Insurance Coverage RiskERIN has successfully applied PRA methods to determine optimum insurance coverage for a nuclear power plant site given its unique risk profile. ERIN has analyzed the likelihood and consequences of the spectrum of nuclear power plant accidents ranging from a TMI accident to a main transformer replacement and the associated costs from both the repairs and the replacement power. Empowered with the knowledge of the cost and likelihood of these events, a more informed insurance decision can be made. |
Operational Solutions to Reduce CostsUsing our arsenal of state-of-the-art software and extensive experience, ERIN can provide innovative programmatic or technological solutions targeted at cost reduction. These services have helped maximize operational performance in industries such as electric power production, chemical processing, manufacturing, petroleum refining, retail sales, and wholesale distribution. The ERIN PLANTFORMA™ software helps provide technological solutions in these areas. |
At-Power and Outage Risk ManagementERIN has pioneered the development of risk and reliability methods to support outage risk assessment and management. These methods can be implemented through the use of the PARAGON™ software program. Outage management areas targeted by the PARAGON software include power and safe shutdown planning, economic and decision analyses, safe configuration management during power operations and outages, and strategies for minimizing outage duration.  |
