Recent improvements in check valve monitoring methods

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:6115665

Haynes, H D

In support of the NRC Nuclear Plant Aging Research (NPAR) program, ORNL has carried out an evaluation of three check valve monitoring methods: acoustic emission, ultrasonic inspection, and magnetic flux signature analysis (MFSA). This work has focussed on determining the capabilities of each method to provide diagnostic information useful in determining check valve aging and service wear effects (degradation) and undesirable operating modes. In addition, as part of the ORNL Advanced Diagnostic Engineering Research and Development Center (ADEC), two novel nonintrusive monitoring methods were developed (external ac- and dc-magnetic monitoring) that provide several improvements over the other methods. None of the examined methods could, by themselves, monitor the instantaneous position and motion of check valve internals and valve leakage; however, the combination of acoustic emission monitoring with one of the other methods provides the means to determine vital check valve operational information. This paper describes the benefits and limitations associated with each method and includes recent laboratory and field test data to illustrate the capabilities of these methods to detect simulated check valve degradation. 3 refs., 22 figs., 4 tabs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USNRC; Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6115665
• Report Number(s): CONF-910426-2; ON: DE91010384
• Resource Relation: Conference: Nuclear power plant and facility maintenance topical meeting, Salt Lake City, UT (USA), 7-11 Apr 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
BWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
AGING
VALVES
ACOUSTIC EMISSION TESTING
ULTRASONIC TESTING
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DIESEL ENGINES
ELECTRIC GENERATORS
FEEDWATER
INSPECTION
PUMPS
REACTOR MONITORING SYSTEMS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SPECIFICATIONS
US NRC
ACOUSTIC TESTING
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
ENGINES
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
HEAT ENGINES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
MATERIALS TESTING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REACTORS
TESTING
US ORGANIZATIONS
WATER
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
210100* - Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Boiling Water Cooled
210200 - Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled