Seismic qualification of electrical components on the example of switch cabinets

The seismic qualification of safety related electrical equipment (cabinets, motors, generators...) in nuclear plants can be established by different methods like analysis, test and proof by analogy (similarity). The contribution gives two examples of seismic qualification; the first example shows the qualification of a cabinet with respect to stability and functionality. Stability is proved by analysis using a finite element model of the cabinet and performing a dynamic RSMA-calculation. By comparing the von-Mises equivalent stress against permissible values, the stability of the cabinet is assessed. Functionality is proved by separate component tests. To define the test loading for the uniaxial component tests, the calculated maximum accelerations are used. The second example shows how to make use of a successful seismic qualification of a reference cabinet to qualify a similar cabinet with respect to stability. For this purpose the method of 'proof by analogy' is used.