Nuclear Plant Journal, May-June 2015 NuclearPlantJournal.com
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requested if there is a concern with the
pumps operation; for example if it is
operating close to process design limits.
For one customer SPX has, on request,
carried out detailed investigative analysis
of a pump’s operation and provide a
‘hotline’ for support assistance.
4.
How does SPX utilize Research &
Development to optimize:
a. Reducing repair time at the nuclear
plants
b. SPX’s training operations
c. SPX’s pump testing operations
a. SPX has a continual program
of R&D to enhance its pumps. That
program focuses on enhancing plant and
personnel safety, although time to repair
may be a secondary factor. For example,
an innovation that reduces dose is more
likely to be considered beneficial. This
may, of course, correspond directly to
reduced repair time but the driver is very
much safety. One example is a special
casing design and tool that enables the
pump internals to be removed without
having to remove the whole pump from
the system to make maintenance simpler.
b. SPX has training academies at
its ClydeUnion Pumps manufacturing
facilities that are used regularly by our
nuclear customers. A dedicated training
manager prepares course material,
manages these facilities and course
logistics. Specialists from our research
and engineering teams frequently deliver
the course material, including operational
feedback, and provide training to nuclear
site personnel.
c. Part of the work of our R&D
teams is to help in designing and defining
tests to address specific process conditions
and pump specifications. SPX believes in
the principal of shared knowledge. For
example, there are dedicated engineers
within SPX’s aftermarket department
who have a deep understanding of pump
calculations, simulation techniques
and justification that help facilitate a
resolution to any customer issues. They
work closely with other teams to pull
in more in-depth expertise as required.
There are also dedicated teams that run
our test facility but when there is a new
test requirement they will use engineers
from across SPX’s R&D and aftermarket
departments to ensure the best solution is
reached.
5.
What are the most challenging repair
and testing jobs undertaken by SPX in the
last two years?
The most challenging test and
repair jobs are those where solutions are
required to phenomena that have no initial
clear cause. A nuclear plant is never a test
site, so SPX works diligently to recreate
the actual process conditions in house. It
is unusual for pump modifications to be
made because of a fault within the pump.
Usually such faults are caused by other
parts of the installation or operational
procedures on site and, unfortunately,
all too often the only option is to change
or modify the pump to the new system
requirements. If a significant modification
is required, for example the change of
impeller design, this alters the capacity of
the pump and necessitates requalification
with the associated extensive testing to
prove performance.
Ultimately SPX has a great deal
of experience in finding solutions to
phenomena that can be caused by
obscure and diverse plant effects. SPX
engineers have proven their capability to
investigate, innovate and resolve all kinds
of issues that arise within a nuclear site.
6.
Has SPX been involved in any of
the post-Fukushima recovery projects, in
the US or abroad, including pumps with
Passive Shutdown Seals?
Yes, SPX has undertaken extensive
work to develop innovative solutions
to address the issues highlighted by the
Fukushima disaster in 2011. Operators
have employed SPX to design pumps
for use in new applications in order to
provide enhanced plant safety. One good
example is the design of a drain and re-
injection pump for use with existing
reactors. Constrained by the boundaries
of the site conditions, this submersible
pump recovers reactor coolant from a
sump during accident conditions. The
pump had to be self-priming and offer
continuous operation in all conditions,
including handling debris up to 2.5mm
(.09 inches) and dry running, for a period
of one year without operator intervention.
7.
What is the transportation utilized
for urgent repairs?
SPX works closely with customers to
ensure the right level of strategic spares
inventory for their site. If a part needs
to be shipped quickly for a repair then it
simply uses the shipping method that will
meet the required timescales. Shipping
spare parts for long-term storage requires
a different approach as they must be
packed in order to provide protection
during storage over what may be many
years.
SPX does not transport contaminated
spares but has undertaken work to
improve transportation containers in
order to ensure radioactive containment.
Fundamentally, SPX aftermarket services
endeavour to manage every customer
need.
8.
What innovative technologies are
utilized in pump and motor repair?
SPX uses the most up-to-date high
tolerance machinery at its manufacturing
sites, including Coordinate Measurement
Machines (CMM) to support pump
repairs. These precise machines enable
parts to be remanufactured precisely
to the original specification, thereby
maintaining installation qualification.
9.
Describe the application of finite
element analysis and reverse engineering
in SPX’s nuclear business.
Reverse engineering is theoretically
possible but is not usually an accepted
practice within the nuclear industry.
Its use often means the manufacturer
does not have access to the intellectual
property for a part and if the part is copied
the resultant drawing cannot be utilized
in isolation without conducting the
Independent quality checks on a
nuclear safety pump at SPX.
