Evaluation of main coolant pump shaft cracking. Final report
- Structural Integrity Associates, Inc., San Jose, CA (United States)
This report presents a review of reactor main coolant pump shaft failures which have occurred in various types of plants and pump designs. The objective of the review was to identify common metallurgical, design and operational considerations which may have contributed to the failures, and which might provide insight into potential repairs and monitoring practices. The review considered Westinghouse PWR main coolant pumps, Byron-Jackson pumps for both BWR and PWR applications, KSB pumps in a US PWR, and Sulzer-Bingham pumps in a US BWR application. All of the above have experienced at least one shaft cracking event, and some have experienced multiple shaft cracking events or total shaft failures. Common factors involved in essentially all of the failures include thermal effects due to purge flow and/or seal cooling, and asymmetric (radial) impeller thrust loads. These have been aggravated in some instances by extended periods of off-design operation; holes, keyways and other stress concentration factors; and less-than-optimal manufacturing processes such as chrome plating and poor surface machining conditions. As a result of this review, several recommendations have been identified for potential industry programs to help resolve the shaft cracking problem and/or to qualify potential remedies. These include programs aimed at reducing the susceptibility of the shafts to the basic failure mechanisms identified as well as programs aimed at improving the industry`s basic understanding of the primary loading conditions responsible for the failures.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Structural Integrity Associates, Inc., San Jose, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 10127394
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-TR-100154-Tier1; ON: UN92009000
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Feb 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Operating experience feedback report: Experience with pump seals installed in reactor coolant pumps manufactured by Byron Jackson
Operating experience feedback report: Experience with pump seals installed in reactor coolant pumps manufactured by Byron Jackson. Commercial power reactors, Volume 7
Related Subjects
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
BWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
PUMPS
MECHANICAL SHAFTS
FAILURES
CRACKS
STRESSES
RECOMMENDATIONS
REACTOR SAFETY
CRACK PROPAGATION
220900
210100
210200
POWER REACTORS
NONBREEDING
LIGHT-WATER MODERATED
BOILING WATER COOLED
POWER REACTORS
NONBREEDING
LIGHT-WATER MODERATED
NONBOILING WATER COOLED