MEPhI has completed the development of a complex for the rapid diagnostics of electric drive valves (SOD EPA), which allows checking thousands of control elements at nuclear power plants without dismantling.
At nuclear power plants, thousands of electric drives control the opening and closing of valves on kilometers of pipelines. Traditional inspection required removing each drive, transferring it to a test bench, taking measurements, and reinstalling it, which took a lot of time and limited the possibilities of preventive maintenance.
SOD EPA is a portable device that connects to the power cabinet of the electric drive and reads current, voltage, power, and other parameters. Software on a tablet or computer analyzes the data and forms a conclusion about the technical condition of the valve. For calibration, that is, determining the actual torque of the drive, an additional sensor is used, which allows performing the procedure on-site, without transportation to the test bench.
The main advantage of the system is that diagnostics and calibration are carried out on-site without stopping the equipment, dismantling, or disconnecting, which reduces time and costs. Calibration directly on the valve gives more accurate results than on the test bench.
The complex has been successfully tested at the Novovoronezh NPP. After a year of operation, the station sent a positive review to JSC "Concern Rosenergoatom" with a recommendation to implement SOD EPA at other nuclear facilities. The chief engineer of the Kola NPP also noted the economic and practical inefficiency of bench diagnostic methods.
