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U.S. Department of Energy
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Acoustic monitoring of relief valve position. [PWR; BWR]

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5489574· OSTI ID:5489574
A series of tests to establish the feasibility of monitoring relief valve positions using acoustic sensors is described. The sensors respond to noise generated when steam flows through the valve. Six types of safety and relief valves commonly used in light water reactor plants were instrumented and actuated under simulated plant conditions. In addition, background noise was measured in both pressurized water reactor plant and a boiling water reactor plant so that relative signal levels (valve open versus valve shut) could be determined. Results show that acoustic levels with the relief valves open are from one hundred to one thousand times greater than the levels with the valves shut, depending upon the valve type. Data are presented that will help system designers predict the acoustic levels that will be encountered when a relief valve opens.
Research Organization:
Technology for Energy Corp., Knoxville, TN (USA)
OSTI ID:
5489574
Report Number(s):
EPRI-NP-1313
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English