Motor-operated valve reliability programs: Lessons learned to meet new NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) requirements

Conference · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA)

OSTI ID:6128022

Anderson, M W; Fadel, D P; Fraser, P J

In recent years, reliability problems have surfaced with power plant motor-operated valves (MOVs) that (a) fail to perform as designed, and/or (b) require excessive maintenance to perform their intended function. As a result, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) mandated certain testing and reporting requirements in inspection and enforcement bulletin 85-03 (85-03). The NRC's generic letter 89-10 (89-10) significantly expands these requirements, to include all safety-related and position-changeable MOVs. The MOV program experience at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) Rancho Seco plant is particularly valuable since the NRC, to a large extent, utilized this program as the prototype for 89-10's requirements. The MOV inspection, overhaul, and testing began in September 1986, with completion scheduled for December 1986. The paper discusses problems encountered, recovery plant, results of recovery planning, and lessons learned. Experience at Rancho Seco has shown that comprehensive valve programs incorporating appropriate design practices, preventive maintenance practices, and operational constraints can improve plant availability.

• OSTI ID: 6128022
• Report Number(s): CONF-900608--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA) Journal Volume: 61
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210200* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
COOLING SYSTEMS
DESIGN
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DOCUMENTATION
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
MAINTENANCE
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PLANNING
POWER REACTORS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
QUALITY ASSURANCE
RANCHO SECO-1 REACTOR
RANCHO SECO-2 REACTOR
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTOR MAINTENANCE
REACTORS
REGULATIONS
RELIABILITY
US NRC
US ORGANIZATIONS
VALVES
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS