Operating experience feedback report: Experience with pump seals installed in reactor coolant pumps manufactured by Byron Jackson

Technical Report · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:6935534

Bell, L G; O'Reilly, P D

This report examines the reactor coolant pump (RCP) seal operating experience through August 1990 at plants with Byron Jackson (B-J) RCPs. ne operating experience examined in this analysis included a review of the practice of continuing operation with a degraded seal. Plants with B-J RCPs that have had relatively good experience with their RCP seals attribute this success to a combination of different factors, including: enhanced seal QA efforts, modified/new seal designs, improved maintenance procedures and training, attention to detail, improved seal operating procedures, knowledgeable personnel involved in seal maintenance and operation, reduction in frequency of transients that stress the seals, seal handling and installation equipment designed to the appropriate precision, and maintenance of a clean seal cooling water system. As more plants have implemented corrective measures such as these, the number of B-J RCP seal failures experienced has tended to decrease. This study included a review of the practice of continued operation with a degraded seal in the case of PWR plants with Byron Jackson reactor coolant pumps. Specific factors were identified which should be addressed in order to safety manage operation of a reactor coolant pump with indications of a degrading seal.

• Research Organization: Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (United States). Div. of Safety Programs
• Sponsoring Organization: NRC; Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6935534
• Report Number(s): NUREG-1275-Vol.7; ON: TI93002815
• 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
COOLING SYSTEMS
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
FAILURES
INSTALLATION
MAINTENANCE
OPERATION
POWER REACTORS
PUMPS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTOR OPERATION
REACTORS
SEALS
THERMAL REACTORS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS