An Analysis of the Reliability of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Electrical System

The results of a study of the reliability of the Los Alamos National Laboratory electrical system are discussed and an assessment of the risk arising from power interruptions is made. The study was intended to provide a current status of the system and to rank modifications to improve the system. Fault‐tree analysis, cause‐consequence analysis, and directed graphs were used. The study resulted in a ranking of the relative importance of the consequences of power loss to various Los Alamos technical sites and facilities, sets of equipment whose failure will lead to loss of power to the sites, and statistical estimates of the frequency of power loss to sites and facilities.