• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.12a
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• pp.309-314
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• 2004

The experimental loop was designed and installed to measure the disc positions, disc back stop load and differential pressure with flow velocity for 3 inch and 6 inch swing check valves. The tests were performed at various conditions of upstream flow disturbance source and distance from the tested check valves to investigate the effect of the upstream flow conditions on the disc stability of the swing check valves. The selected disturbance sources were elbow, globe valve, and orifice. The experimental results are presented herein.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.129.1-129.1
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• 2003

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.12a
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• pp.607-612
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• 2005

Check valves playa vital role in the operation and protection of nuclear power plants. Check valves failure in nuclear power plants often lead to a plant transient or trip. An overview of the failure history of check valves needs to identify key area where resources can be best applied to further improve their reliability, and provide cost effective means for failure reduction. The analysis of historical failure data gives information on the populations of various types of check valves, the systems they are installed in, failure modes, effects, methods of detection, and the mechanisms of the failures. The results presented are based on information derived from operating records, nuclear industry reports, manufacturer supplied information. A majority of check valve failures are caused by improper application. Failure modes are identified for swing and lift check valves. Failures involving improper seating and valve disc stuck comprised the largest percentage of failures.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.12a
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• pp.315-320
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• 2004

Swing check valves are the most common type of check valve in nuclear power plant and need to be operated property to perform their functions and to keep the valve internals stable. However, for a swing check valve disc to remain stable, the opening characteristics should be identified and the upstream flow velocity should be enough to hold the disc fully open and without motion. Thus it is necessary to develop a model for predicting the flow velocity for a given disc opening. In the present study, the disc positions with mean flow velocity were measured for 3 inch and 6 inch swing check valves. Comparison of the measurements with the existing models showed that the models underestimate the mean flow velocity for a given disc position. Therefore, the existing model for predicting swing check valve disc position was improved with the realistic disc impingement area perpendicular to the flow stream and the experimental data. The result showed that the improved model with the best estimate of kb = 0.04 predicts well the disc openings of 6 inch swing check valve, especially in the low velocity region. For better prediction of the disc opening at high flow velocity, however, it is recommended to develop a kb correlation with the disc angle.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.12a
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• pp.555-561
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• 2003

The experimental apparatus is designed and installed to measure the disc positions with flow velocity, $V_{open}\;and\;V_{min}$ for 3 inch and 6 inch swing check valves. The minimum flow velocity necessary to just open the disc at a full open position is referred to as $V_{open}\;and\;V_{min}$ is defined as the minimum velocity to fully open the disc and hold it without motion. In the experiments, $V_{min}$ is determined as the minimum flow velocity at which the back stop load begins to increase after the disc is idly opened or the oscillation level of disc is reduced below $1^{\circ}$. The results show that the $V_{min}$ velocities for 3 inch and 6 inch swing check valves are about 15.6% and 4.8% higher than the $V_{open}$ velocities, respectively. Although the experiments were done with the stable uniform flow, additional experiments will be performed to determine the effects of the upstream disturbances.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.10 no.1 s.40
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• pp.41-48
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• 2007

The effect of the upstream flow conditions on the disc stability of the swing check valves was investigated at various upstream flow disturbance sources and distances from the tested check valves. The experimental loop was designed and installed to measure the disc positions, disc back stop load, and differential pressure at flow velocities lot 3 inch and 6 inch swing check valves. The selected disturbance sources are elbow and globe valve. The effect of the disc fluctuation is different depending on the type of disturbance and the distance between the disturbance and the check valve. Disturbances generated by elbow and globe valve located upstream from check valve create greater and more violent disc motion than uniform flow.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.881-886
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• 2003

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.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.8 no.6 s.33
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• pp.15-25
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• 2005

Check valves playa vital role in the operation and protection of nuclear power plants. Check valves failure in nuclear power plants often lead to a plant transient or trip. The analysis of historical failure data gives information on the populations of various types of check valves, the systems they are installed in, failure modes, effects, methods of detection, and the mechanisms of the failures. A majority of check valve failures are caused by improper application. The experimental apparatus is designed and installed to measure the disc positions with flow velocity, Vopen and Vmin for 3 inch and 6 inch swing check valves. The minimum flow velocity necessary to just open the disc at a full open position is referred to as Vopen, and Vmin is defined as the minimum velocity to fully open the disc and hold it without motion. In the experiments, Vmin is determined as the minimum flow velocity at which the back stop load begins to increase after the disc is fully opened or the oscillation level of disc is reduced below $1^{\circ}$. The results show that the Vmin velocities for 3 inch and 6 inch swing check valves are about 27.3% and 17.5% higher than the Vopen velocities, respectively.