OPERATING EXPERIENCE WITH AN ONLINE VIBRATION CONTROL-SYSTEM FOR PWR MAIN COOLANT PUMPS

The main circulation pumps are key components of nuclear power plants with pressurized water reactors (PWRs), because the availability of th e main circulation pumps has a direct influence on the availability an d electrical output of the entire plant. The on-line automatic vibrati on control system ASMAS was developed for early failure detection duri ng the normal operation of the main circulation pumps in order to avoi d unexpected outages and to establish the possibility of preventive ma intenance of the pumps. This system is permanently and successfully op erating in three German 1300 MWel NPP's with PWR and has been successf ully tested in a 350 MW,, NPP with a PWR. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevi er Science S.A. All rights reserved.