On behalf of the entire industry, welcome to our 2010
AOV Users Group (AUG) Conference. We are glad you
could join us for this important annual event and we look
forward to your fresh perspective and new ideas. This
conference provides a unique opportunity for you to meet
and interface with industry peers and vendors. With a
content focused on current issues facing us all, I believe
you will find the presentations, users groups, and discus-
sions informative and well-rounded. If you are new to AOVs, I encourage you
to take advantage of the many networking opportunities to learn from your
peers as well as our vendors. If you have any questions or want to learn more
about training, benchmarking, or assessment possibilities; please let me know.
Thanks and I look forward to meeting you during the conference.
This AUG Chairman’s Last Message
AUG 2010 NEWSLETTER J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 0 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 3
AIR-
OPERATED
VALVE USERS
GROUP
DEDICATED TO
THE
DEVELOP-
MENT AND
EXCHANGE
OF
TECHNICAL
INFORMATION 2010 CONFERENCE HIGHLITES
This year’s conference features several valve and actuator manufactur-
ers demonstrating overhaul and setup techniques. These sessions
promise to be interactive as well as a good opportunity to address any
nagging questions on their products. In addition Swagelok and Parker-
Hannifin will be providing best practices and innovations for that often
overlooked component on air operators. The maintenance and engi-
neering breakout sessions will also include diagnostic and trace analy-
sis round table discussion as well as a rollout of the new feature on the
AUG webpage for trace analysis. These
sessions are a result of
feedback from the previous conference
so keep those ideas coming, the electronic
conference feedback survey after the con-
ference via survey monkey. Your feedback
and suggestions are the key to the success
of the conference. Karen Miller The AOV and MOV Users Group Coordinator, at the registration desk
Your Participation Makes The Conference
NRC PERSPECTIVE
Regulatory and Oversight News P A G E 2 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 3
The 2009 AUG included a presentation from Gary Peet (INPO); Review of
AOV Events for 2000 – 2008. The full report is available on the AUG Web-
site. This year’s conference will offer several opportunities to discuss this
report as well as the additional findings INPO has made and their recommen-
dations. Attending from INPO this year are David Berko and Dennis Adams.
Both men are presenting Wednesday afternoon as well as attending the New
Attendees lunch and Orientation. Their presentation this year, Balance-of-
Plant AOVs Impact on Forced Loss Rate, continues to focus on the past two
year’s industry data pertaining to critical and non critical AOV failures impact-
ing MWh lost. They will also be presenting information on an industry wide
survey INPO has developed to gather information that will benefit the indus-
try as we strive to improve AOV performance and reliability.
David Berko
Mgr. Equipment
Reliability/Materials
Dennis Adams
Sr Evaluator Equipment
Reliability/Materials
16
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
AOV MOV Mechanical Hydraulic
(HOV)
Solenoid (SOV) None Manual Other Piston
Total MWh Lost from Valves, All Components (Critical and Non-Critical)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
AOV Hydraulic (HOV) None
PWR Scrams by Valve Type
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
PWR Critical Valve Failures
10
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Critical Component Failures
02468
10121416
Scrams Caused by Critical Component
Failures
01,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
4,000,000
5,000,000
6,000,000
7,000,000
8,000,0009,000,000
MWh Lost by Critical Component Failure
Critical Component Failures from 1/1/2007 to 6/30/2009
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
BWR Critical Valve Failures
0
1
2
3
AOV Hydraulic
(HOV)
MOV Mechanical Other
BWR Scrams by Valve Type
Absent the past couple of years at the AUG has been an NRC
presentation on the regulatory outlook for valves and specifi-
cally AOV issues. We are grateful Russ Lake from the NRC
will be presenting Wednesday afternoon with time allotted
for questions and answers.
P A G E 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 3
Inman Lanier , AUG Vice Chairman at the 2009 New
Attendees Breakfast. Also shown are Bill Bowyer,
Southern Co.; JR Price, South Texas; Andrew
Peterson, San Ofre; and Andy Kuklis, PP&L
This years luncheon will be starting at 11:30 on
Wednesday in Conference Room 11. This luncheon is
hosted by the AUG for the purpose of introducing new
attendees to some of the veterans as well as key indus-
try representatives. This is a perfect start to not only
figuring out what is going on for the week, but to begin
networking with colleagues. Chances are those issues
you are struggling with, someone else has already con-
quered. Even more likely there are people that have the
same issue and are able to share lessons learned. The
AUG attendees include engineers, maintenance techni-
cians, trainers, planners, and vendors supporting all as-
pects of AOVs from both US and foreign plants.
New AUG Attendees Lunch & Orientation
The AOV Users Group hosts a variety of industry groups. They
include the CANUG (Compressed Air Nuclear Users Group),
the FLMUG (Fluid Leak Management Users Group), the Viper
Users Group, the FlowScanner Users Group, the UltraCheck-A
Users Group, the KVAP Users Group, and the Teledyne Users
Group. All of these groups are addressing issues that directly
impact the health and capability of AOVs. These meetings are
the customers’ (YOUR) opportunity to provide feedback and
suggestions on the products as well as information on current
and future efforts. The AOV Users Group meetings are
Wednesday morning, see the AUG agenda for specific locations.
The FLMUG is also at the Marriott Rivercenter hotel and is
January 11-13. Presentations include Ft Calhoun Plant Leak
Reduction Program, Control Valve Packing OE and Improve-
ments & INPO Forced Loss Rate Improvement Plan, and FLM
and Packing Program Assessment Guide Review and Instruc-
tions. This years CANUG, also here at the Rivercenter hotel is
an all week event. Starting Monday are training presentations
that include Fundamentals of Compressed Air, Principles of Air
Compressors, and Preventive Dryer Maintenance. Wednesday
starts the industry presentations and roundtable discussion.
2009 FLMUG Presentations
What Else AOV is Going On This Week
Crane/Viper Users Group
P A G E 4 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 3
This is the link to past conferences presentations, attendees list, a technical blog,
and other AOV related documents of interest. This site also includes links to
Highlighting this years AUG conference:
• Actuator Overhaul Sessions on four of the most commonly installed manu-
facturer/models • Breakout sessions on Tubing & Fittings Best Practices and innovations • Breakout Sessions on Trace Analysis, Maintenance Techniques, Equipment Reliability, & Obsolescence • Review of Industry OE • Updates from NRC, INPO, & EPRI • Vendor Expo & Networking • KVAP Users Group Session
Look for all the 2010 presentations on the AUG Web Page
COMING SOON - AOV DIAGNOSTIC TRACE WEBSITE The steering committee embarked on building a website for users to share and
search AOV diagnostic traces. Traces and key parameters will be entered into a
database to enable searching and review by others for similarity at their sta-
tions. After difficulty securing a programmer to work within our budget con-
straints, we think we've found a success path and hope to finalize the feasibility
and scope in the near term. By mid-year we hope to send an email to selected re-
cipients to help pilot the website. For more information contact Bill Bowyer or
Inman Lanier.
AUG Participation from Spanish Utility
Dr. Kalsi,
long-time
AUG
Supporter
and
Presenter
Retired PSEG
Valve Engineer
Chris Zeher
enjoys the
consulting life
P A G E 5 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 3 From the Archives: COMANCHE
PEAK CYCLE
ISOLATION
LOSS
RECOVERY
January 2004 Significant losses were recovered from leaking cycle isolation
valves and steam traps at Comanche Peak. In 2001 Unit 1 output increased by
2.8 MW and Unit 2 output increased by 1.6 MW. This paper discusses how
those leakers were identified, how they were put in priority order for repair, how
common root causes were identified, how repairs were made, and how the re-
covery was measured. (See the 2006 Archives for Best Practices from USA
STARS AOV Assessments)
AOV Working Groups & Self-Assessments, January 2003
Looking for specialized AOV Training opportunities, Assessment or
benchmarking support? Start Here
From the 2005 AUG—Update on MSIV Strain Gage Diagnostic
Testing at Exelon. With the capability of monitoring actuator total
output, main spring force, packing load, backseating force, etc.
you can eliminate an as left LLRT following AO maintenance,
justify continued performance without disassembly, and detect
degradation.
OUTAGE
PERFORMANCE
BASED INCEN-
TIVE PROGRAM
Breakout Session Product from AUG Summer Conference
2005—Examples and suggestions for developing a mutually
agreeable incentive/penalty program
Available Pressure Margin Verification Method, January
2007, Software solution to keep DBR revisions up to date with
test data. This also allows the margin verification to be separated
for the AOV Setup. Detailed actuator capability calculation not
required, this allows the method to be easily be applied to Cat 2
Outage Lessons
Learned
The Importance of Proper Planning and the Integrated Valve
Team, January 2007 An excellent source for outage best prac-
tices including suggested staffing requirements, Roles, Responsi-
bilities, and Expectations, Preoutage activities, Package Prepara-
tion, and Turnovers, Prejob Briefs, and Hand Offs.
Task Proficiency Evaluation
AUG MUGJanuary 6 – 8, 2009
Don CullersTask Proficiency Evaluation Program Manager
712.730.0353
FROM
THE
2009
ARCHIVES
AOV PM Templates
Comparison
Future Direction
AOV User’s Group Meeting
Orlando, Florida
January 7-9, 2009
Kenneth Hart
PPL Susquehanna
McGuire Feed Reg Valve Digital Positioner
Experiences (Update)
2009 AOV User Group MeetingLake Buena Vista, Florida
January 7, 2009
Fred Setzer - Duke Energy
Jeff Klatt-R.E. - Mason Company
P A G E 6 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 3
The support we have received over the years from all of our
vendors has been nothing short of excellent. The new
products available for demonstration, product information,
and their active solicitation for our comments and sugges-
tions have grown each year. This year we have the largest
contingency of AOV vendors in the AUG history. Don't be
shy; be sure to let them know what is working for you at
your plant and what you would like to see in the future.
P A G E 7 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 3
Included in this weeks agenda is the ASME OM Code AOV Subgroup up-
date. Currently, the subgroup is working on a proposed revision to the OM Code
to move from our current stroke time testing requirements to incorporating diag-
nostic testing elements into the code in a future code revision. Presentation
Wednesday for more information.
This one
week of
networking
builds
contacts
for life
Update From the ASME OM Code AOV Subgroup
The success of the AUG truly does rely on you. Your candid
response on the post outage surveys sets the focus for the next
years meeting. Year after year our best presenters are our in-
dustry peers who are willing to share lessons learned and
their own successes. Please contact Karen Miller or any of
the steering committee members is you have a best practice or
station OE you would share at the 2011 conference.
P A G E 8 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 3
The AUG Steering Committee Would Like to Thank All
of Our Exhibitors for Their Continued Support
A.W. Chesterton AP Services AREVA ASCO Valve CCI Valves
Conval, Inc Crane Nuclear Critical Path
Resources Curtiss Wright
Dupill Group, Inc.
DZ Atlantic EFCO USA EGC Enterprises Emerson Enertech
Flexitallic Flowserve Henry Pratt Kalsi
Engineering Kinectrics
Leak Detection Services
Nippon Pillar Nuclear Logistics
Inc. Parker Hannifin
R.A. Hiller
Company
Rorex
Automation Score Group
SPX -Copes
Vulcan Swagelok
Systems
Technology Inc
Team Industrial Services Inc
Teledyne
Instruments Valcor Nuclear Valve World
Valvtechnolo-gies, Inc
Velan Valves Ventil Test Equipment
W. L. Gore & Associates,
Inc Weir Valves
Wright
Technical Wyle Labs