Condition Monitoring of Rotating Equipment in Nuclear Power Plants

Abstract

This presentation provides an overview of condition monitoring for rotating equipment in nuclear power plants. Specific condition monitoring technologies addressed include vibration analysis, lube oil analysis, thermography, and motor current signature analysis. Plant and equipment parameters, such as motor electrical and plant process parameters, useful for evaluating equipment condition, are also identified. The technologies are examined based on availability, cost effectiveness, and importance to a condition monitoring program. Although vibration analysis and oil analysis are the primary emphasis for performing condition monitoring, the inter-relationships between the technologies, techniques and other readily available plant data explored here demonstrate how a more complete and accurate diagnosis of the condition of a machine set can be determined. A discussion of each technology will include the various machine set faults which the technology will identify, as well as, how the overlapping technologies improve the effectiveness of a condition monitoring program. Paper published with permission.