IST Management Software for Check Valves, MOVs, and AOVs

Abstract

This paper focuses on Inservice Testing (IST) software, in particular software developed by Kalsi Engineering, Inc. (KEI), to assist plant personnel in implementing IST requirements. The requirements in Mandatory Appendices II, III, and IV to ASME’s Operation and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants (OM Code) for check-valve condition monitoring, motor-operated valve (MOV) inservice testing, and air-operated valve (AOV) inservice testing, respectively, are identified. Each requirement in Appendix II is mapped to specific functionality in the condition-monitoring software. In addition, methods used in the design-analysis software for design-basis verification, trending of diagnostic test data, and functional margin determination to satisfy the requirements in Appendices III and IV are also described and mapped to specific requirements. Conditioning-monitoring management database software is designed to comprehensively meet the documentation and trending requirements of Appendix II. The software addresses all program aspects, including valve grouping, program analysis, development of optimization and performance-improvement activities, evaluation of test and inspection intervals, trending and feedback, and corrective maintenance. To achieve this functionality, the condition-monitoring software includes check-valve design information, condition-monitoring activity setup and test history, trending of test parameters, a repository for miscellaneous data, and documentation of expert panel reviews. Database query tools and hard-copy reports are also provided. The benefit is that this software provides a standardized, central collection point from which plant engineers can effectively manage their Appendix II program without having to develop and maintain a multitude of non-standardized personal spreadsheets or databases. In addition, the software assists in succession planning and minimizes the transition time for new check-valve program owners. The MOV and AOV design-analysis software determines initial design margin and then uses field test data and associated uncertainties to determine actual setup functional margin. In addition, trending of diagnostic in-service test data is performed to verify that design values are conservative and that the inservice test intervals are appropriate based on projected degradation rate. The benefit of this software is that it assists utility engineers in satisfying the design-basis verification, preservice, and inservice testing requirements in Appendices III and IV in a standardized and comprehensive platform. Paper published with permission.