Information Notice 1990-72, Testing of Parallel Disc Gate Valves in Europe

Testing of Parallel Disc Gate Valves in Europe

ML031130199
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Three Mile Island, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	11/28/1990
From:	Rossi C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
IN-90-072, NUDOCS 9011210137
Download: ML031130199 (7)

I

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 November 28, 1990

NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 90-72: TESTING OF PARALLEL DISC GATE VALVES

IN EUROPE

Addressees

All holders of operatinglicenses or construction permits for nuclear power

reactors.

Purpose

This information'notice is intended to alert addressees to the results of tests

of parallel disc gate valves by researchers from the United Kingdom (UK) and

theFederal Republic of Germany (FRG);. It is expected -that recipients will

review 'the information for applicability to their facilities and consider

actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problem.;. However, suggestions

contained in this information notice do not constitute NRC requirements;

therefore, no specific action or written response Is required.

Discussion:

On October 15 to 19, 1990, members of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

(NRC) staff met with nuclear regulatory authorities and industry representa- tives in the UK and the FRG to discuss the performance of motor-operated valves

(MOYs)4at nuclear power plants. During these discussions, researchers from

both the UK and the FRG described tests of the operation of parallel disc gate

valves under'high differential pressure and flow conditions. According to the

UK and FRG researchers, the tests resulted in internal damage to the gate

valves. This damage included-abrasion and galling of the disc-and seat sliding

surfaces. Because of this damage, significantly more thrust was required to

operate'the'valves than was predicted by the commonly-used equation. In some

instances, the increased thrust requirements could have exceeded the setting of

the MOV torque switch or the capability of the motor operator.

During the meetings, the FRG representatives reported that an improved design

for parallel disc gate valves had been developed. This improved design has

additional sliding surface area to eliminate the excessive thrust requirements

for valve operation. The FRG representatives reported that, as a result of

their valve tests, the FRG valve vendors now typically assume a valve friction

factor of 0.4 (plus or minus 0.1) in the commonly-used equation to estimate the

thrust required to operate the improved valve design. In the United States, a

valve friction factor of 0.2 is typically assumed for all parallel disc gate

9011210137

r

IN 90-72 November 28, 1990 valves even though little research has been conducted regarding the performance

of these valves under conditions of high differential pressure and flow.

A summary of the FRG parallel disc gate valve tests is provided in "Testing of

Safety-Related Valves of PWR and BWR Power Plants," by U. Simon, N. Rauffmann, and H. Schafer, which is printed in The American Society of Mechanical

Engineers, PYP - Volume 180, Pipeline Dynamics and Valves (1989).

The parallel disc gate valve tests performed by the UK and FRGresearchers

provided results similar to the results of the NRC-sponsored tests of

flexible-wedge gate valves performed by researchers at the Idaho National

Engineering Laboratory. As with the tests of parallel disc-gate valves per- formed by UK and FRG researchers, the NRC-sponsored tests revealed that inter- nal damage may occur to the flexible-wedge gate valves when operated under

conditions of high differential pressure and flow. Because of this internal

damage, the thrust required to operate the flexible-wedge gate valves exceeded

the thrust predicted from t.e commonly-used equation and typical friction

factors. The NRC-sponsored test results were discussed at public meetings on

February 1, 1989, and April 18, 1990, and are summarized in NRC Information

Notice 90-40, "Results of 1IRC-Sponsored Testing of Motor-Operated Valves."

Licensees and constructiot permit holders may wish to consider the results of

the UK and FRG tests when evaluating the capability of currently-installed

parallel disc gate valves and when considering the adequacy of replacement

vaves.i

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions ribout the information in this notice, please contact the

technical contact listed below or the appropriate NRR project manager.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contact:

Tfiomas'G. Scarbrough, NRR

(301) 492-0794 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

s . .

S

Attachment 1 IN 90-72 November-28, 1990 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

90-71 Effective Use of Radi- 11/6/90 All NRC licensees

ation Safety Committees authorized to use by- to Exercise Control Over product material for

Medical Use Programs medical purposes.

90-70 Pump Explosions Involving 11/6/90 All uranium fuel

Ammonium Nitrate fabrication and

conversion

facilities.

90-38, License and Fee Require- 11/6/90 All fuel facility and

Supp. 1 ments for Processing Fin- materials licensees.

ancial Assurance Submittals

for Decommissioning

89-30, High Temperature Environ- 11/1/90 All holders of OLs

Supp. 1 ments At Nuclear Power or CPs for nuclear

Plants power reactors.

90-69 Adequacy of Emergency and 10/31/90 All holders of OLs

Essential Lighting or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

90-68 Stress Corrosion Cracking 10/30/90 All holders of OLs

of Reactor Coolant Pump Bolts or CPs for pres- surized water

reactors (PWRs).

90-67 Potential Security Equipment 10/29/90 All holders of OLs

Weaknesses or CPs for

nuclear power

reactors and

Category I fuel

facilities.

90-66 Incomplete Draining and 10/25/90 All holders of OLs

Drying of Shipping Casks for nuclear

power reactors

and all registered

users of NRC

approved waste

shipping packages.

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit

IN 90-72 November 28, 1990 valves even though little research has been conducted regarding the performance

of these valves under conditions of high differential pressure and flow.

A summary of the FRG parallel disc gate valve tests is provided in Testing of

Safety-Related Valves of PWR and BWR Power Plants," by U. Simon, N. Rauffmann, and H. Schafer, which is printed in The American Society of Mechanical

Engineers, PVP - Volume 180, Pipeline Dynamics and Valves (1989).

The parallel disc gate valve tests performed by the UK and FRG researchers

provided results similar to the results of the NRC-sponsored tests of

flexible-wedge gate valves performed by researchers at the Idaho National

Engineering Laboratory. As with the tests of parallel disc gate valves per- formed by UK and FRG researchers, the NRC-sponsored tests revealed that inter- nal damage may occur to the flexible-wedge gate valves when operated under

conditions of high differential pressure and flow. Because of this internal

damage, the thrust required to operate the flexible-wedge gate valves exceeded

the thrust predicted from the commonly-used equation and typical friction

factors. The NRC-sponsored test results were discussed at public meetings on

February 1, 1989, and April 18, 1990, and are summarized in NRC Information

Notice 90-40, "Results of NRC-Sponsored Testing of Motor-Operated Valves.'

Licensees and construction permit holders may wish to consider the results of

the UK and FRG tests when evaluating the capability of currently-installed

parallel disc gate valves and when considering the adequacy of replacement

valves.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact the

technical contact listed below or the appropriate NRR project manager.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Thomas G. Scarbrough, NRR

(301) 492-0794 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

• SEE PREVIOUS CONCURJEyJC&y

DtDO ^f/ *C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR*AD/GPA:IP *RPB:ADM

CHBerlinger RHauber TechEd

11, J/90 11/19/90 11/16/90 11/06/90

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Document Name: IN 90-72

IN 90-XX

November xx, 1990 the performance

valves even though little research has been conducted regarding and flow.

of these valves under conditions of high differential pressure

in uTesting of

A summary of the FRG parallel disc gate valve tests is provided N. Rauffmann, Safety-Related Valves of PWR and BWR Power Plants," by U. Simon, and H. Schafer, which is printed in The American Society of Mechanical

Engineers, PVP - Volume 180, Pipeline Dynamics and Valves (1989).

researchers

The parallel disc gate valve tests performed by the UK and FRG of

tests

provided results similar to the results of the NRC-sponsoredIdaho National

flexible-wedge gate valves performed by researchers at the valves per- Engineering Laboratory. As with the tests of parallel disc gate that inter- formed by UK and FRG researchers, the NRC-sponsored tests revealed under

nal damage may occur to the flexible-wedge gate valves when operated this internal

of

conditions of high differential pressure and flow. Becausegate valves exceeded

damage, the thrust required to operate the flexible-wedge

friction

the thrust predicted from the commonly-used equation and typical meetings on

factors. The NRC-sponsored test results were discussed atinpublicNRC Information

February 1, 1989, and April 18, 1990, and are summarized Valves."

Notice 90-40, "Results of NRC-Sponsored Testing of Motor-Operated

results of the

Licensees and construction permit holders should be aware of the parallel

UK and FRG tests when evaluating the capability of currently-installed valves.

disc gate valves and when considering the adequacy of replacement

response. If

This information notice requires no specific action or written contact the

please

you have any questions about the information in this notice, manager.

technical contact listed below or the appropriate NRR project

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Thomas G. Scarbrough, NRR

(301) 492-0794 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

Document Name: UK AND FRG MOV TESTING RESULTS

• SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES () 3

/

D/DOEA:NRR C/OGCB:uE h:NRR*AD/GPA:IP *RPB:ADM

CERossif CHBerlinger RHauber TechEd

11/ /90 11//90 11/16/90 11/06/90

• EMEB9:DET :NRR *C/EMEB:DET:NRR *D/DET:NRR

• OGCB:DOEA:NRR*EMEB:DET:NRR

RJKlessel TGScarbrough EJSullivan LBMarsh JERichardson

11/07/90 11/09/90 11/09/90 11/09/90 11/14/90

IN 90-XX

November xx, 1990 performance

valves even though little research has been conducted regarding the flow.

and

of these valves under conditions of high differential pressure

of

A summary of the FRG parallel disc gate tests is provided in "Testing N.Rauffmann, Safety-Related Valves of PWR and BWR Power Plants," by U. Simon, and H. Schafer, which is printed in The American Society of Mechanical

Engineers, PYP - Volume 180, Pipeline Dynamics and Valves (1989).

researchers

The parallel disc gate valve tests performed by the UK and FRGtests of

provided results similar to the results of the NRC-sponsoredIdaho National

flexible-wedge gate valves performed by researchers at the valves per- Engineering Laboratory. As with the tests of parallel disc gate that inter- formed by UK and FRG researchers, the NRC-sponsored tests revealed

operated under

nal damage may occur to the flexible-wedge gate valves when internal

of this

conditions of high differential pressure and flow. Because exceeded

damage, the thrust required to operate the flexible-wedge gate valves used

typically

the thrust predicted from the commonly-used equation and the on public

friction factors. The NRC-sponsored test results were discussed in NRC

meetings on February 1, 1989, and April 18, 1990, and are summarized

of Motor-Operated

Information Notice 90-04, "Results of NRC-Sponsored Testing

Valves."

results of the

Licensees and construction permit holders should be aware of the installed parallel

UK and FRG tests when evaluating the capability of currently valves.

disc gate valves and when considering the adequacy of replacement

response. If

This information notice requires no specific action or writtenplease contact the

you have any questions about the information in this notice, technical contact listed below or the appropriate NRR project manager.

Charles E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Thomas G. Scarbrough, NRR

(301) 492-0794 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

Document Name: UK AND FRG MOV TESTING RESULTS

• SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES

D/DOEA:NRR C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR AD/ i J:IP *RPB:ADM

CERossi CHBerlinger Ii b#r TechEd

11/ /90 11/ /90 117/4/90 11 11/06/90,

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