The Development of a Non-Intrusive Test of Check Valve Using Acoustics and Magnetics

Check valves used in industrial and Nuclear Power Plant safety systems are susceptible to failure modes generally associated with wear of internal parts. Specifically, hinge pins, disc studs, pistons, and other mechanical parts may degrade over time, and in some cases, may which might produce a disabling event leading to plant or process shutdown. The primary diagnostic technique in the past has been to disassemble the valves. This procedure is costly, time consuming, and in the nuclear industry, it can lead to radiation exposure in some situations. Additionally repair and reassembly of a valve does not ensure proper operation. Non-intrusive diagnostic technologies including acoustics and magnetics with a digital signal analysis allow to evaluate check valve performance without a disassembly and is able to help the user detect degraded valve conditions.