2012 IEEE 7th International Power Electronics and Motion Control Conference - ECCE Asia

June 2-5, 2012, Harbin, China

Analysis on Lead-Acid Battery Bank for Nuclear

Power Plants in Korea

Daesik Kim / Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety Hanju Cha / Chungnam National University
Instrumentation & Electricity Department Department of Electrical Engineering
Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, KINS Chungnam National University
Daejeon, Korea Daejeon, Korea
dskim@kins.re.kr hjcha@cnu.ac.kr

Abstract—Lead-acid batteries are used for DC power system in
nuclear power plants. Standards of periodic surveillance and
determining battery capacity for the batteries in the nuclear
power plant are summarized. This paper is investigated for
environment service condition, specification, advantages and
disadvantages of Class 1E battery bank. Class 1E batteries of
nuclear power plants in Korea are summarized in terms of
specification, such as capacity, discharge rate, bank
configuration, discharge end voltage, etc. This paper summarizes
standards, and performance test results of the battery in the
nuclear power plant. Also this paper analyses performance test
results during 12 years and compared performance degradation
in the battery bank.
provide 40KVA inverter, diesel generator control panel,
4.16kV switchgear indication, 480V load center, reactor trip
switchgear, solenoid valve, annunciator isolation cabinet,
auxiliary feedwater isolation valve, etc.
Figure 1 shows single diagram of Class 1E UPS in nuclear
power plant. 480V bus supplies class 1E 120V I&C
(Instrument and Control) load through charger, and regulator
transformer.

Keywords; Lead-acid batteries; Class 1E Battery; Performance

Test; Periodic Surveillance; Secondary Battery

I. INTRODUCTION
Lead-acid batteries are installed across nuclear power
plants and have been used DC power system of nuclear power
plant. The onsite power system of nuclear power plant is
divided into Class 1E and non-Class 1E. Electrical equipment
and systems that are essential to emergency reactor shutdown,
containment isolation, reactor core cooling, and containment
and reactor heat removal, are essential in preventing significant
release of radioactive material to the environment, are
classified as Class 1E[1]. Class 1E batteries of nuclear power
plant are divided into four channels, which are physically and
electrically separate and independent. And each channel
consists of 116 cells. Capacities of all batteries are based on a
10-hour discharge rate. There is one type of class 1E 125V DC
battery with steel rack PS-1400. There are 4 Class 1E 125V
DC battery with racks, for each unit, which are to be qualified. Figure 1. Single diagram of Class 1E UPS in nuclear power plant.
Lead-acid batteries have been studied in terms of state of
charge, aging estimation method, charging and discharging II. STANDARDS OF LEAD-ACID BATTERIES IN THE
characteristics. Efficiently in order to use batteries have been NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
studying battery management system.
DC power is supplied at 125V to the safety related and non- A. IEEE Standards
safety related loads. The Class 1E DC system provides four The following standards are employed for batteries in the
independent sources of 125V DC power for each unit, two for nuclear power plant. Sizing batteries in accordance with IEEE
each load group, for Class 1E switchgear, essential AC power Std. 485 requires individual load tables to develop the final
inverters, and other safety related equipment [1]. DC Power load profile and a cell sizing sheet to determine the maximum
system in nuclear power plant is included charger and batteries. section size, which dictates the batteries size [2].
Class 1E DC Power systems are divided into 4 channels. They

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978-1-4577-2088-8/11/$26.00 ©2012 IEEE

 Testing of the dc power system is performed in accordance D. Determination of battery capacity
with the procedures described in IEEE Std. 450. For an acceptance or performance test, the following
Design and Installation of large lead-acid batteries in equation should be used to determine the battery capacity [5]:
accordance with IEEE Std. 484, and IEEE Std. 535 describes
qualification methods for Class lE lead storage batteries and C = T a × 100 (1)
racks to be used in nuclear Ts
B. Periodic Surveillance C is the % capacity at 25 ℃ (77°F)
The nuclear power plant performs periodic surveillance for where
lead-acid batteries every weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly,
60monthly. Performance test is performed at the nuclear power Ta is actual time of test to specified terminal voltage
plant every 60 month. Ts is rated time to specified terminal voltage
A good maintenance program emphasizes not only care, but Time capacity determination
regularity. Periodic inspections at regular established time
intervals should include [3]: Equation (1) is used to determine the battery or cell/unit
capacity for an acceptance test or a performance test using the
1) a check of the batteries physical appearance for time adjusted method [4]:
cleanliness and abnormalities,
2) a check of the charger for proper output current and
C = t a
× 100 (2)
voltage,
3) cell electrolyte level, ts× K T
4) cell electrolyte temperature, where
5) cell voltage and battery terminal voltage. C is the % capacity at 25 ℃
It is important to note that measurements of cell electrolyte
temperature and level should not be made immediately after an ta is the actual time of test to specified terminal or
equalizing charge has been placed on the battery or after water cell/unit voltage
has been added to the cell. As a rule, a period of about 72 hours tS is the rated time to specified terminal or cell/unit
should elapse after an equalize charge before readings are taken voltage
[3].
KT is the correction factor for the cell temperature
As a minimum, a quarterly inspection with cell before the start of the test
measurements inclusive of each cell should be performed. A
monthly check of the battery need only include measurements Rate-adjustment capacity determination
of the pilot cells. For Class 1E batteries in nuclear power plants
To calculate the percent capacity for this test method, it is
this surveillance is required weekly or as otherwise required by
plant technical specification. Retorquing of cell connections necessary to consult the manufacturer’s data to determine the
and intercell resistance measurements should be performed published rating for the actual time of the test to the specified
annually. If environmental control equipment is used to terminal voltage. The battery or cell/unit capacity is then
maintain the battery room near optimum 77°F, a check of the calculated using [4]:
room ambient temperature can serve as an indicator of that
equipment's satisfactory operation [3]. C = X a × K c × 100 (3)
Xt
C. Performance Test Cycle in IEEE 450 where
A performance test of the battery capacity should be made C is the % capacity at 25 °C
within the first two years of service. Each battery should Xa is the actual rate used for the test
undergo additional performance tests at five-year intervals until Xt is the published rating for time to specified
the battery shows signs of degradation. Annual performance
terminal or cell/unit voltage
tests of battery capacity should be made on any battery that
shows signs of degradation or has reached 85% of the service Kc is the temperature correction
life expected for the application. Degradation is indicated when IEEE STD. 450-2010 is two methods for battery capacity
the battery capacity drops more than 10% from its capacity on testing rate-adjusted and time-adjusted. But IEEE STD. 450-
the previous performance test, or is below 90% of the 1987 determines one method for battery capacity. And nuclear
manufacturer’s rating. If the battery has reached 85% of service power plants in Korea should be used to determine the battery
life, battery capacity of 100% or greater of the manufacturer’s capacity by equation (1).
rated capacity, and has shown no signs of degradation, The capacity is determined by the product of the current
performance testing at two-year intervals is acceptable until the and the duration of discharge [6].
battery shows signs of degradation [4].

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 Current(A)
Current Magnitute( C)=
Rated Capacity(A h)
The capacity is determined by the product of the current
and the duration of discharge. And the SOC is determined by
subtraction of the discharged capacity from the whole capacity,
which is assumed the total discharged energy when the internal
voltage decreases to final voltage. We define the SOC as (5).
The SOC (t) is the defined SOC on a time t. The Q is the whole
discharging capacity [6].
t
SOC(t) = Q − ∫ H (t)dt
0
E. Principles and Methods of Qualification
The capability of Class lE lead-acid batteries and racks,
including interfaces, shall be demonstrated to perform their
required functions. Principles and methods for demonstrating
the qualification of Class lE equipment include [7]:
1) Assurance that the severities of the qualification
parameters are equal to the maximum anticipated service
requirements and conditions with an appropriate margin
2) Assurance that any extrapolation or inference be justified
by allowances for known potential failure modes and the
mechanism leading to them
3) Documentation fries that provide the basis for
qualification
4) Qualification of any interface utilized in demonstrating
the adequacy of the battery and rack
III. LEAD-ACID BATTERIES USED IN NUCLEAR
POWER PLANT
A. Battery and Battery Room
Figure 2 shows the Sebang PS-1400 type battery that is
used in nuclear power plants. Battery specifications show
Table Ⅰ. And it is the names of each component. Figure 3
shows states of battery installation of the Class 1E D.C power
system for SWN 1.
Figure 2. The Sebang PS-1400 type battery overview.
(4)
(5)
Figure 3. Battery photograph in nuclear power plant.
B. Major Advantages and Disadvantages of Lead-Acid
Batteries
Lead-acid battery, that is great in price and reliability, has
been used DC power system of nuclear power plant. But Lead-
acid batteries have disadvantages such as high-maintenance,
heavy metals pollution problem.
Batteries have been study actively now, the development of
new technologies and ease maintenance. The excellent battery
with reliability and safety will be replaced. There will are many
variety. In order to use new secondary batteries for nuclear
power plants must be study its characteristics. And in order to
use effectively the battery, to study need the battery
management system. Also in order to apply different new
batteries for nuclear power plants will be carried out technical
standards for nuclear power plants.
C. Internal resistance
There have been many proposals for lead-acid battery
models. One of these is the Thevenin’s equivalent circuit,
shown in Figure 4, which is a simple way of demonstrating the
behavior of battery voltage (Vb). It contains the electrical
values of no-load voltage (VOC), internal resistance (R1) and
overvoltage (parallel combination of C and R2). This model is
not accurate because these values are not constant as modeled
but in fact are functions of the various battery conditions stated
above [8].
Figure 4. Battery Equivalent circuit
Internal resistance (R1) is due to the electrolyte, plates and
fluid resistance, is a result of electrolyte diffusion [8].
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D. Class 1E batteries specification of korea nuclear power
plants
Table Ⅰ shows class 1E batteries specification of Korea
nuclear power plants. Where, the YGN 1, 2 is Westing House
type plant. The YGN 3, 4 is Korea Standard Nuclear Power
Plant (KSNP). The WSN 3, 4 is CANDU type plant. The UJN
1, 2 is Framatome type plants. They are operated nuclear power
plant in Korea.

TABLE I. NUCLEAR POWER PLANT CLASS 1E BATTERIES

SPECIFICATION Figure 5. 2005 Year Performance Test (B) Graph.

Plant YGN 1,2 YGN 3,4 WSN 3,4 UJN 1,2

48V 3
Bank C 1E C 1E C 1E
BANK
Safety
125 V 125 V System 125 V
Consist
4 Bank 4 BANK Control 6 BANK
Logic
Capacity 2415 825
2800 1120 1200 440
(AH) (A,B) (C,D)
Discharge
10Hour 10Hour 5Hour 10Hour
Rate
60Cell 116Cell
Cell No 24Cell 58Cell Figure 5. 2011 Year Performance Test (C) Graph
(BANK
(58Cell×2)
A,B,C,D)
Final
1.75V/Cell 1.81V/Cell 1.81V/Cell 1.81V/Cell
Voltage
Operating
Voltage 105∼140 V 105∼140 V 42∼56V 105∼135V
Range
2.17V/Cell 2.15V/Cell 2.10V/Cell
Floating
(Min.) (Min.) (Min.)
Charging 2.20V/Cell
2.25V/Cell 2.17V/Cell 2.20V/Cell
Voltage
(Max.) (Max.) (Max.)
2.25V/Cell
Equalizing
(Min.) 2.28±1%
Charging 2.33V/Cell 2.30V/Cell
2.40V/Cell V/Cell
Voltage
(Max.)
Duty Cycle 2.2hr 4hr 1hr 2hr
Lead – Lead – Lead – Figure 5. Performance Test (D) Graph of Special Cell
Plates Lead –calcium
Antimony Antimony Antimony
Manufacture Gould Sebang Sebang Sebang 2001 and 2005 performance tests have no final voltage at
entire cells. But cells is reached final voltage with table Ⅱ at
E. Performance Test Result Comparison 2011 performance test. It is cell number reached final voltage
Batteries were installed in May 1999. And they operated at 2011 performance test. But performance test result is
during about 12 years. So it causes aging and degradation of satisfied because battery bank capacity is more than 100%.
batteries performance. Figure 5 (A)-(D) show the result of
discharge by constant current for 10hours at plant. The TABLE II. CELLS NUMBER OF REACHED FINAL VOLTAGE
batteries are discharged at a constant current till the terminal
voltage becomes 1.81V. The constant current of discharge is A Channel B Channel C Channel D Channel
0.2[C] 280A. Figure 5 (A)-(D) show performance test result for
4 cells which are performed every five years. The latter part of
graphs is increased after the end of test. Cells No. 17 EA 16 EA 6 EA 19 EA

IV. CONCLUSION
This paper summarized standards of periodic surveillance
and determining battery capacity for the batteries in the nuclear
power plant. 2001 and 2005 performance tests had no final
voltage at entire cells, but cells had reached final voltage at
2011 performance test, when every five years performance test
results were analyzed. The battery which used for a longer
Figure 5. 2001 Year Performance Test (A) Graph

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period could be seen that its capacity has reduced. But
performance test result was satisfied. Also this paper analyses
performance test results during 12 years and compared
performance degradation in the battery bank. Batteries of the
nuclear power plants have no changed after installation. In
order to replace lead-acid batteries must be provide the
direction of new standards for the nuclear power plants. In
future we will study in order to apply new secondary batteries
in nuclear power plant.

REFERENCES

[1] YGN 3&4 Final Safety Analysis Report ,2010.01, pp.3.2-14, 8.1-2.
[2] Richard A. Johnson, “Nuclear Power Plant Battery Performance
during a Station Blackout”, Nuclear Science Symposium,1990.
[3] J. F. Montalbano, R V Casalaina "Installation and Maintenance of
Lead acid Stationary Batteries for Generating Stations" IEEE
Transactions on Energy Conversion, Vol. EC-1, No. 4, December
1986, pp 57-62 .
[4] IEEE Recommended Practice for Maintenance, Testing, and
Replacement of Large Lead Storage Batteries for Generating Stations
and Substations, ANSI/IEEE Standard 450-2010.
[5] IEEE Recommended Practice for Maintenance, Testing, and
Replacement of Large Lead Storage Batteries for Generating Stations
and Substations, ANSI/IEEE Standard 450-1987.
[6] Shinya Sato, Atsuo Kawamura, “A New Estimation Method of State
of Charge using Terminal Voltage and Internal Resistance for Lead
Acid Battery”, Power Conversion Conference 2002, PCC Osaka 2002,
pp565-570.
[7] IEEE Standard for Qualification of Class 1E Lead Storage Batteries
for Nuclear Power Generating Stations, ANSI/IEEE Standard 535-
1986.
[8] Ziyad M. Salameh, Margaret A. Casacca, William A. Lynch, "A
Mathematical Model for Lead-Acid Batteries", IEEE Transactions on
Energy Conversion, Vol. 7, No.1, March 1992, pp93-98.

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