Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K37/00—Special means in or on valves or other cut-off apparatus for indicating or recording operation thereof, or for enabling an alarm to be given
  • F16K37/0075—For recording or indicating the functioning of a valve in combination with test equipment

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method and a device for remote monitoring of manual valves of fluid circuits such as in the nuclear island of a plant during operation or shutdown.
• the nuclear island forms a set including the nuclear boiler and fuel-related facilities, as well as the equipment necessary for the operation and safety of this unit.
• the nuclear boiler comprises, inside a reactor building, a vessel containing the reactor core, filled with water under pressure, and a primary circuit consisting of several loops in communication with the vessel.
• Each of the loops of the primary circuit comprises a steam generator in which the pressurized water of the primary circuit cools by heating and vaporizing water from the secondary circuit.
• the steam generators of each of the loops are connected to the tank by pressurized water inlet and outlet pipes called primary pipes. These pipes are connected to the water box of the steam generator, located at its lower part, through tubing integral with the water box.
• the equipment required for the operation and safety of each island of the nuclear reactor consists of several fluid circuits, for example:
• the equipment also includes: - The booster circuit in boric acid which aims to allow the adjustment of the reactivity of the heart by the addition of boric acid neutron in addition to adjusting the position of the clusters for adjusting the reactivity of the heart, these clusters being also neutrophages.
• These hydraulic circuits include fluid transfer lines between the different equipment and are equipped with manual valves operable between an open position and a closed position.
• the manual valves are arranged in different rooms in buildings and the pipes pass through thick walls for the transfer of fluids between the different components.
• valves of the various circuits are opened or closed manually by operators as required.
• each valve is equipped with a fixed rod secured to the body of the valve and a slider which moves in translation on said rod during the rotation of a control wheel. valve.
• the slider occupies a first position on the rod and, in the open position of this valve, the cursor occupies on said rod a second position, allowing an operator to quickly visualize the position of the valve.
• the circuit does not perform its function by the addition of boric acid neutron absorbing in addition to adjusting the position of the control clusters of the reactivity of the At the core, the recovery of the borification function should be done within one hour, otherwise the warm shutdown of the reactor should be scheduled within six hours. So far, to limit such problems, nuclear power plant operators focus on training operators and improving procedures, but the risks remain.
• the aim of the invention is to propose a method and a device for remote monitoring of the functional conditioning of the circuit or of the fluid line, that is to say of monitoring the state of opening or closing the manual valves to enable said circuit or line to perform its function.
• the subject of the invention is therefore a method for remote monitoring of manual valves of fluid circuits such as, for example, in the nuclear island of a plant during its operation or its shutdowns, said valves being manually operable between an open or closed position, characterized in that
• the manual valves of detection means are equipped with their open or closed positions and with first wireless communication means of signals relating to the open or closed position of each valve,
• second communication means are provided, in particular signals transmitted by the first wireless communication means; local cabled networks are provided outside said room, enabling signals received by the second communication means to be received; to cross thick walls impervious to wireless signals, and
• the invention also relates to a device for remote monitoring of manual valves of fluid circuits in the nuclear island of a plant during its operation or its stops, said valves being manually operable between an open or closed position, characterized in that it comprises: - means for detecting the open or closed position of said valves and the first wireless communication means of the signals relating to the open or closed position of each valve,
• second communication means including signals transmitted by the first wireless communication means, said second communication means being in the room corresponding to the valves,
• the device comprises, associated with the reception and processing means, transmission, activation and interrogation means for activating the first communication means of each valve via second communication means and interrogating the detection means of the open or closed position of each valve,
• the detection means of the open or closed position are mounted on each valve to be monitored,
• the first means of wireless communication of the signals relating to the open or closed position are mounted on each valve to be monitored,
• the detection means and the first wireless communication means form an independent assembly, able to be mounted on each valve to be monitored, the first and second wireless communication means are of the radio wave or acoustic wave type,
• the first and second wireless communication means are of the visible or invisible light-wave type, the first and second wireless communication means are of the infrared-wave type, and
• the detection means and the first wireless communication means are of the video camera type.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram of a circuit for adding boric acid to the primary circuit of a nuclear reactor
• FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a manual valve of such a circuit, according to the state of the art
• FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a manual valve equipped with means for detecting its position and for wireless communication means for a remote monitoring device, according to the invention.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a remote monitoring device of the manual valves, according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 shows, by way of example, a circuit for adding neutrophilic boric acid to a primary circuit of a nuclear reactor.
• the circuit 10 arranged in a room, comprises, in a conventional manner, a boric acid reservoir 12, this boric acid is intended to be mixed with the water in a determined dosage, before being introduced into the primary circuit of the reactor.
• This circuit 10 comprises a multitude of branches 14 each provided with one or more manual valves 15 which are opened or closed by operators as required, that is to say according to the operation of the reactor. If one of these valves, such as the valve 15a, has not been opened, the boric acid is not mixed with water and only water is injected into the primary circuit, which may have serious consequences and cause a hot shutdown of the reactor. As shown in FIG.
• a first part of the branches 14 and valves 15 of the circuit 10 is arranged in a first room A and a second part of the branches and valves 15 of the circuit 10 is arranged in a second room B, the rooms A and B being separated by thick walls, in particular of reinforced concrete.
• a valve 15 will be described, the other valves being identical.
• the valve 15 comprises a body 16 intended to be mounted on a branch 14 of the circuit 10 and in which is formed a valve seat 17.
• the valve 15 also comprises a rod 18 movable in rotation in the body 16 and which carries, at a first end 18a, an operating wheel 19 and, at a second threaded end 18b, a valve 20 carrying a membrane 21, for example made of rubber.
• the rod 18 is driven in rotation and in translation to move the valve 20 between a first position spaced from the valve seat 17 corresponding to the open position of the valve 15 for the passage of the fluid in the corresponding pipe and a second position applied against the valve seat 17 corresponding to the closed position of said valve 15 to prevent the flow of fluid in the pipe.
• the valve 15 also comprises a fixed rod 22 integral with the body 16 and extending substantially parallel to the rod 18, and a slider 23 secured to the rod 18 and extending substantially perpendicularly to the rod 18 and to said fixed rod 22.
• the fixed rod 22 passes through the slider 23, so that during the translational movement of the rod 18, the slider 23 moves on the fixed rod 22 between a first position (a) corresponding to the open position of the valve 15 and a second position (b) corresponding to the closed position of this valve 15.
• each valve 15 is equipped with a assembly 30 (FIG. 3) comprising means 31 for detecting the open or closed position of the corresponding valve 15 and first wireless communication means 32 for signals relating to the open or closed position of said valve 15.
• the assembly 30 is an independent assembly and adapted to be mounted on the body 16 of the valve 15.
• the assembly 30 comprises a support 33, provided with fastening means on the body 16 of the valve 15, such as a collar 34 or any other suitable member.
• the detection means 31 are mounted on the support 33, close to the cursor 23, whereas the first wireless communication means 32 are separated from this support 33 and connected to said means 31, for example by means of electrical wires of connection.
• the first wireless signal communication means 32 relating to the open or closed position of the corresponding valve 15 are constituted by a transmitter of the radio wave type.
• These means 32 may also be of other types, for example:
• These means 31 and 32 may also consist of video cameras for displaying in the monitoring room C the position of the valves 15.
• second means 35 for communicating these signals are arranged in each room A and B, as shown in FIG. 4. These second means 35 are trained, for each room A and B, by a transceiver of the signals transmitted wirelessly.
• Each second communication means 35 is connected by a local cable network 36 to means 40 for receiving and processing signals arranged in the monitoring room C.
• the signals as for example, the radio waves can not cross the thick walls delimiting each room A and B.
• each second communication means 35 is connected by a local cable network 36 crossing the thick wall of each room, to means 37 of the communication system router type which are themselves connected to the means 40 for receiving and processing signals via a local cable network 38.
• the second communication means 35 of each room can be connected by a local cable network to a transmitter located outside the room.
• the means 40 for receiving and processing signals arranged in the monitoring room C are connected by a local cable network to a receiver for collecting the signals transmitted by each transmitter connected to the receivers of each room.
• each manual valve 15 of the circuit 10 in each of the different rooms is known instantly and therefore remotely on a display screen located in the monitoring room.
• This visualization is, for example, in the form of a block diagram, as shown in Figure 1, which displays, by colors or by any other means, the open or closed position of each valve.
• the first communication means 32 of each valve 15 are powered by a battery integrated with said first means 32, as well as the second communication means 35.
• the monitoring device comprises, associated with the receiving and processing means, means, not shown, for transmitting, activating and interrogating to activate the means 32 and 35 of communication of each valve 15, and interrogate the means 31 for detecting the open or closed position of each valve.
• the detection means 31 are thus interrogated and they transmit to the first communication means 32 the open or closed position of each valve 15.
• the signals relating to the position of each valve 15 are transmitted to the means 40 for receiving and processing the signals by via means 32 and 35 of communication.
• the device is therefore used punctually according to the needs of checking the circuit lines by avoiding excessive power consumption since the device returns to the standby position between each interrogation.
• This mode of operation also has the advantage of being much more economical than a power supply of each valve by means of electric cables.
• the device according to the invention allows a mode of operation in both directions, that is to say according to a transmission mode of the information delivered by the detection means 31 to means 40 for receiving and processing signals, d on the one hand and on the other hand, according to a mode of activation and interrogation of the detection means 31 from the means associated with the means 40 for receiving and interrogating the signals.
• each valve is known, which allows, in case of incorrect position of one or more valves, to be able to involve one or more operators, to correct the malfunction, so that the circuit or the line is located. under conditions that correspond to the functions requested.
• the device according to the invention can obviously apply to all fluid circuits having manual valves whose positions must be monitored remotely.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Monitoring And Testing Of Nuclear Reactors (AREA)
• Indication Of The Valve Opening Or Closing Status (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Families Citing this family (5)

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• 2008
  • 2008-06-10 FR FR0853837A patent/FR2932310B1/fr active Active
• 2009
  • 2009-06-03 US US12/997,422 patent/US20110161051A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2009-06-03 KR KR1020107027868A patent/KR20110025910A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2009-06-03 WO PCT/FR2009/051044 patent/WO2010001005A2/fr active Application Filing
  • 2009-06-03 CA CA2727349A patent/CA2727349A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2009-06-03 MX MX2010013626A patent/MX2010013626A/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2009-06-03 RU RU2010154150/07A patent/RU2010154150A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2009-06-03 BR BRPI0909982A patent/BRPI0909982A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2009-06-03 EP EP09772688A patent/EP2301039A2/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-06-03 JP JP2011513029A patent/JP2011524014A/ja active Pending
  • 2009-06-03 CN CN2009801220472A patent/CN102084432A/zh active Pending
• 2010
  • 2010-12-20 ZA ZA2010/09140A patent/ZA201009140B/en unknown

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