• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.540-548
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• 2004

Check valve failure is one of the worst problems in nuclear power plants. Recently, many researches have been based on new technology using accelerometers and ultrasonic and magnetic flux detection have been carried out. Here, we have suggested a method that uses acoustic emission sensors for detecting the failures of check valves through measuring and analyzing backward leakage flow, a system that works without disassembling the check valve. For validating the suggested acoustic emission sensor methodology, we designed a hydraulic test loop with a check valve. We have assumed in this study that check valve failure is caused by disk wear or by the insertion of a foreign object. In addition, we have developed diagnostic algorithms by using a neural network model to identify the type and size of the failure in the check valve. Our results show that the proposed diagnostic algorithm with acoustic emission sensors is a good solution for identifying check valve failure without necessitating any disassembly work.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.581-582
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• 2007

• 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.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.843-849
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• 2009

The reliable operation of a swing check valve in the main feed water system of a power plant is most essential for successful shout-down process. A failure to close the valve at proper time often leads to the instability of the main feed water system, or even to an emergency stop of the power plant. In reality it is a very difficult task to monitor the behavior of a swing check valve. Furthermore it is impossible to see the motion of the valve. In this work two measurements were carried out simultaneously to determine the precise valve closure time. The dynamic pressure measurements were made at the inlet and outlet regions of the swing check valve. The transient vibration of the valve housing in the direction of water flow was also measured, which enabled the measurement of the transient vibration of the valve housing near valve closure. By comparing the results produced from these measurements the precise valve closure time could be determined. By carrying out order tracking technique using the dynamic pressure signals and pump rpm signal, the complicated dynamic problems inside the main feed water system can be more easily dealt with. This measurement scheme might be implemented in a power plant on a real-time basis without much difficulty. If this could be implemented, valuable information essential for shut-down operations can readily be passed on to the main control room. The feasibility of this implementation was demonstrated by this experimental work.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.1E
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• pp.9-14
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• 1997

Check valves used in industrial and Nuclear Power Plant safety systems are susceptible to failure modes generally associated with wear of internal parts. Specifically, hinge pins, disc studs, pistons, and other mechanical parts may degrade over time, and in some cases, may which might produce a disabling event leading to plant or process shutdown. The primary diagnostic technique in the past has been to disassemble the valves. This procedure is costly, time consuming, and in the nuclear industry, it can lead to radiation exposure in some situations. Additionally repair and reassembly of a valve does not ensure proper operation. Non-intrusive diagnostic technologies including acoustics and magnetics with a digital signal analysis allow to evaluate check valve performance without a disassembly and is able to help the user detect degraded valve conditions.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.139-145
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• 2007

The motion of single-rod cylinder is typically controlled by the directional control valve. In some case, the hydraulic system should be energized by the man power and at the same time the motion of a cylinder is controlled manually. It may be confusing for a man to do two things at the same time. The solution is to make up the closed hydraulic circuit with the bi-directional pump and single-rod cylinder without using a directional control valve. In the case of single-rod cylinder, the flows at the rod side and head side are so different that several valves should be installed to make the motion of single-rod cylinder possible. The hydraulic system is composed of a bi-directional pump, a single-rod cylinder, pilot operated check valves, a check valve and a counter balance valve for the purpose of actuating the lifter. The characteristics of a suggested system are analysized mathematically and numerically.

• 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.

• International Journal of Fluid Machinery and Systems
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.140-147
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• 2008

An experiment setup was introduced to study dynamic behaviour of different types of check valves and the effects of air entrainment on the check valve performance under pressure transient condition. The experiment results show that the check valves with low inertia, assisted by springs or small traveling distance/angle gave better performance under pressure transient condition than check valves without these features. Air entrainment was found to affect both wave speed and reverse velocity. With the increase of the initial air void fraction in pipeline, the experiment results show that the wave speed was reduced, the reverse velocity was increased. The first peak pressure increased initially and then decreased with the increase of the initial air void fraction, the pressure surge periods were increased proportionally with air void fraction due to the greatly reduced wave speed. The study can be applied to help choosing suitable check valves for a particular pumping system.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.156-161
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• 2013

Gas valve time control system used to set the time to use the gas system by one of the user's negligence explosion, fire, and to prevent accidents such as suffocation. Gas valve is one of the items is not a replacement without any special issue after installation in each customer. So sufficient test is required prior to the installation device. In this study, the test system was developed to use to set the number of times at the gas valve time control system.