Evaluating check-valve operational performance
Conference
·
· Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5718202
Check-valve failures have had a pronounced negative impact on nuclear plant performance, reliability, and availability. The need for a simple and effective test method for identifying check valves that are unstable, given a specified operating and flow condition, and therefore subject to excessive wear, fatigue, and possible failure was apparent. An innovative portable system, Checkmate, using ultrasonic technology, has been applied successfully to various types of check valves typically found in nuclear power plants. The system utilizes a pair of temporarily installed ultrasonic transducers (UT), which are focused on the disk of the check valve to be evaluated. For a given operating condition, the reaction of the disk to that flow condition can be accurately monitored and easily analyzed. Initial testing can be completed in approx. 30 min and enables the users to immediately determine if the valve is stable or not again for that particular test flow condition. The benefits for a technically justifiable inspection frequency can now be realized. The expected benefits are reduced maintenance, cost, and radiation exposure, not to mention improved plant and industry availability and reliability.
- OSTI ID:
- 5718202
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-870601-
- Conference Information:
- Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 54
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220200* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Components & Accessories
ACOUSTIC TESTING
AVAILABILITY
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FAILURES
FATIGUE
FLOW REGULATORS
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRAULICS
INSPECTION
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICS
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE
POWER PLANTS
REACTOR OPERATION
RELIABILITY
TESTING
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
ULTRASONIC TESTING
VALVES
WEAR
220200* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Components & Accessories
ACOUSTIC TESTING
AVAILABILITY
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FAILURES
FATIGUE
FLOW REGULATORS
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRAULICS
INSPECTION
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICS
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE
POWER PLANTS
REACTOR OPERATION
RELIABILITY
TESTING
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
ULTRASONIC TESTING
VALVES
WEAR