Organization and Development of the Instrument Department at Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant

Developing an effective instrument department is an important part of a safe and reliable nuclear power plant. Plant Edwin I. Hatch, the first nuclear generating station in the Georgia Power system, presented problems unique in the Company for establishment and operation of its instrument shop. The initial organization of the shop was based on the Company's fossil power plants with expected man power estimated from the previous nuclear startups of other utilities. The construction testing program was mainly performed by the Production Department requiring temporary technical services to meet the work loads prior to and during initial fuel loading of the reactor. The testing requirements listed in the Plant Technical Specifications had grown from those of earlier nuclear plants taking more personnel to operate the surveillance program. Engineering changes in the shop necessitated restructuring the organization with the most experienced technicians providing direct supervision. Implementation of a comprehensive testing program for the plant instrumentation required the use of a computer and an extensive training program to provide the efficiency needed to manage it. This paper presents the problems encountered during the development of the instrument department and the methods used to resolve them.