Compressed Air Best Practices - February 2009 - (Page 28)

| 02/09 Focus Industry POWER PLANTS | INSTRUMENT AIR IN NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS Flow indication upstream of the dryers would provide input as to the purge being used by the dryers. It would be good to add the ability to measure the amount of electricity (kW, amps) being drawn by the compressors. This could provide valuable insight concerning the efficiency of the compressors as well as a second check of flow indications. System Improvements Since the issuance and response to NRC’s Generic Letter 88-14 and INPO’s SOER 88-1, air quality has not been a great issue other than ensuring we are continuing to meet the commitments we made in the past. However, reliability of the Instrument Air Systems continues to be a challenge. The Institute of Nuclear Power Operations provides an operating experience database of problems experienced throughout the nuclear industry that is regularly reviewed for applicability. Nuclear Power Plant System Engineers review this database as part of their System Health Reporting and consider it for potential applications. No formal response is required, as in the case of Generic Letter 88-14 and SOER 88-1, but it is incumbent upon each nuclear facility to seriously consider the applicable events listed in the database, the causes and resolutions so that similar events do not happen at their respective sites: “Operating experience; heed it or be it.” Preventative Maintenance Guide In the mid 1990s, the nuclear industry noted that there had been challenges to the reliability of equipment essential to the production of electricity using nuclear energy. They commissioned the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to assist in developing a set of Preventive Maintenance standards to support the nuclear industry. Instrument Air System components were selected to be part of the study and development of the EPRI PMIR (Preventative Maintenance Information Repository). A number of nuclear industry personnel as well as compressed air industry representatives were involved in the development of this guide. Out of this effort, in addition to a previous gathering of information involving Instrument Air System Engineers throughout the nuclear industry, EPRI produced the Compressed Air System Maintenance Guide (TR-1006677). This is an excellent resource for developing a preventive maintenance program and developing an overall understanding the Instrument Air System. The EPRI PMIR templates are used throughout the nuclear industry as a benchmarking tool in the development of preventive maintenance programs. For further information: 1. Nuclear Power Plant Illustration: By Russell D. Hoffman: http://www.animatedsoftware.com/ environm/nukequiz/nukequiz_one/nuke_parts/ reactor_parts.swf 2. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Animated Power Plant: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/ students/animated-pwr.html 3. In Reactors, Radiation Is Trapped and Contained in Several Ways: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ basic-ref/students/radiation.html 4. NRC Generic Letter: http://www.nrc.gov/readingrm/doc-collections/gen-comm/gen-letters/1988/ gl88014.html 5. Institute of Nuclear Power Operations: http://www.inpo.info/ 6. Regulatory Effectiveness Assessment of Generic Issue 43 and Generic Letter 88-14 (NUREG-1837): http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/ nuregs/staff/sr1837/ 7. Nuclear Industry Organizations: http://www.nucleartourist.com/basics/inpo.htm Conclusion As can be noted, the nuclear industry is unique. In order to use nuclear energy safely, the nuclear industry needs to work together. Though there may be competition in the realm of selling and distributing electricity, there is tremendous cooperation between the nuclear sites: sharing “Operating experience, problems and resolutions” for the good of the industry. For more information, please contact Bill Eister, Oconee Nuclear Station, Duke Energy: tel: 864-885-4572, email: wmeister@duke-energy.com 28 www.airbestpractices.com http://www.animatedsoftware.com/environm/nukequiz/nukequiz_one/nuke_parts/reactor_parts.swf http://www.animatedsoftware.com/environm/nukequiz/nukequiz_one/nuke_parts/reactor_parts.swf http://www.animatedsoftware.com/environm/nukequiz/nukequiz_one/nuke_parts/reactor_parts.swf http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/students/animated-pwr.html http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/students/animated-pwr.html http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/students/radiation.html http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/students/radiation.html http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/gen-comm/gen-letters/1988/gl88014.html http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/gen-comm/gen-letters/1988/gl88014.html http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/gen-comm/gen-letters/1988/gl88014.html http://www.inpo.info/ http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1837/ http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1837/ http://www.nucleartourist.com/basics/inpo.htm http://www.airbestpractices.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Compressed Air Best Practices - February 2009

Compressed Air Best Practices - February 2009 Contents From the Editor Utility-Air News Compressed Air Audit of the Month Air Standards Instrument Air in Nuclear Power Plants Seven Sustainability Projects for Industrial Energy Savings The Pneumatic Advantage Personal Productivity Resources for Energy Engineers Wall Street Watch Advertiser Index Classifieds

Compressed Air Best Practices - February 2009

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