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Acoustic monitoring of BWR main steam safety relief valves

Conference · · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA)
OSTI ID:5529753
Main steam safety relief valves (SRVs) are important equipment in boiling water reactor plants, so monitoring of leakage and valve opening of SRVs is also important. To detect leakage and valve opening, thermocouples are installed on exhaust pipes and limit switches or position sensors on valve stems. The acoustic detection technique with AE sensors and accelerometers is adopted not only to increase the accuracy and response speed of leak detection, but also to estimate leak rate and to detect valve opening. The acoustic leak detection technique was found effective by the mock-up experiment in which an actual SRV and steam under the same condition as the actual use were used to measure the signals from AE sensors and accelerometers attached to the SRV with artificial cuttings on its thermal disk. The acoustic monitoring tests of SRVs have been carried out at a nuclear power plant to prove the acoustic leak detection technique to be effective. The results of the acoustic monitoring tests at the plant are discussed. As a result of the on-site test, the acoustic leak monitoring system was found effective in the plant.
OSTI ID:
5529753
Report Number(s):
CONF-881011--
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA) Journal Volume: 57
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English