스윙형 역지밸브 성능 평가 방법

Performance Evaluation Method of a Swing Check Valve

In spite of its simple design, structure and operating mechanism, swing check valves are one of the critical components which adversely affect the safety of the nuclear power plants if they fail to function properly. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the performance condition of the swing check valves in safety-related systems. The performance characteristics of swing check valves include opening characteristics, the minimum required flow velocity, the pressure drop at design flow, the disc stability, and the effect of the upstream disturbances. Among factors to identify the performance of a swing check valve, a method to evaluate the opening characteristics and the minimum required flow velocity, which guarantees to fully open the disc and hold the disc without motion, are presented to determine the operating region of the swing check valve, such as stable, tapping, or oscillation. Based on the determined operating region and opening characteristics, the simple methods of wear and fatigue analyses of the specific parts of the valve are also described.