In Focus

Preventive Maintenance Basis Database (PMBD) Updates and Activities

PMBD 2.1 is Available

The Preventive Maintenance Basis Database (PMBD) 2.0 has been revised to be compatible with the Windows Vista® and the Windows® 7 operating systems. While in the process of revising PMBD 2.0, other identified bugs were addressed. The duplication of template updates and vulnerability calculation errors were corrected. You can now order PMBD 2.1 (Product ID 1018758) at www.epri.com.

New PMBD Web Service Link for PMBD Template Updates

In an effort to heighten cyber security, EPRI’s Information Technology (IT) Group has moved all Web Service links behind their mainframe firewall at the EPRI Palo Alto office. Previously, the PMBD Web Service link was located at EPRI Charlotte.
Users of PMBD Versions 1.5 and 2.0 should be advised that the Component Updates from the “Download from EPRI” link will no longer function as before.

You will be required to get Component Updates via “Import from Component Update file.” For Component Update assistance, contact the EPRI Customer Assistance Center at 800.313.3774 or send an email to askepri@epri.com.

PMBD Component Export Plugin, Version 1.0

The PMBD Component Export Plugin, Version 1.0, (1018396) has been available to the membership since the first quarter of 2009. It can be used only with PMBD 2.0 or higher. It is not designed to work with PMBD 1.5 or older versions of the PMBD.

The PMBD Component Export Plugin module provides the PMBD user with the ability to export PMBD template information and data in an XML file format. This gives the PMBD user the ability to import the information into their plant’s computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) or PM Basis analysis software, as long as it is used only by the member and they take full responsibility for maintaining the data’s integrity.

The PMBD Component Export Plugin, Version 1.0, (1018396) is available at www.epri.com and can be either ordered or downloaded.

PMBD Template Reviews

At present, the PMBD contains 152 component templates. To ensure that the information and data contained with in each template are accurate and up to date, NMAC and industry subject matter experts perform periodic reviews and updates. To help facilitate the review process, guidance documents have been developed along with a template review schedule. There are three review process guidance documents:

  • PMBD Maintenance and Control Process Procedure
    The purpose of this guidance procedure is to establish the basic expectations, along with the roles and responsibilities, for everyone involved with the reviews, updates, and additions to the PMBD.
  • PMBD Content Review Initiation
    The purpose of this guidance document is to provide a way to initiate the review of individual PMBD templates, assign responsible EPRI subject matter experts (SMEs), and track the review progress to completion.
  • PMBD Content Review Process
    The purpose of this guidance document is to provide everyone who is involved with a PMBD template review with guidance on their information review and a way to document their findings.

As previously stated, to date there are 152 component templates contained in the PMBD. To ensure that each template is up to date and accurate, a review cycle of at least every five years is recommended; however, some templates may require being reviewed more frequently because of their critical nature. Based on a five-year review cycle, this means that approximately 30 templates per year must undergo the review process.

To establish an initial review schedule, two questions were asked. 1): When was the template first added to the PMBD? 2): When was the template last reviewed? Based on this information, over the next four years, an aggressive initial review schedule has been developed for each template. Once the initial review is complete, a routine review schedule can be developed. The number of templates to be reviewed each year is as follows:

  • 2010 – 64 templates
  • 2011 – 39 templates
  • 2012 – 29 templates
  • 2013 – 17 templates

This leaves the templates that were either reviewed or added to the PMBD in 2009, and they are on the schedule to be reviewed in 2014.

At present, during the first quarter of 2010, 28 templates are being reviewed. These templates are for the following component types: transformers, relays, switchgears, and valves. These templates were selected first based on information from the membership and their operating experience (OE) history.

A list of the PMBD component templates to be reviewed in 2010 is included here with the year that they were added to the PMBD and their last known review date. A complete listing of the EPRI PMBD templates is available on either the PMBD UG website at www.epri.com/PMBDUG or the EPRI collaborative website at www.epri.com.

PMBD Component Templates to Be Reviewed in 2010Year AddedLast Review Review Year
1 Air Dryer - Heat Of Compression Drum Type 2001 2010
2 Air Dryer – Heated 2001 2010
3 Air Dryer – Unheated 2001 2010
4 Battery – Charger 1999 2003 2010
5 Battery - Flooded Lead Acid - Lead Calcium/Antimony 1999 2003 2010
6 Battery - Flooded Lead Acid – Plante 1999 2003 2010
7 Battery – NICAD 1999 2003 2010
8 Battery - Valve Regulated Lead Acid 1999 2003 2010
9 Compressor – Centrifugal 2001 2010
10 Compressor – Reciprocating 1999 2002 2010
11 Compressor - Rotary Screw 1999 2001 2010
12 Compressor & Pump - Rotary, Liquid Ring 1999 2010
13 Diesel - Small Standby 2001 2010
14 Heat Exchanger - Feedwater Heater 1999 2010
15 Heat Exchanger - Main Condenser 1999 2001 2010
16 HVAC - Air Handling Equipment 1999 2010
17 HVAC - Dampers & Ducting 1999 2010
18 I&C - Analog Electronic Controller 2001 2002 2010
19 I&C – Booster 2001 2002 2010
20 I&C - DC Power Supply 2001 2002 2010
21 I&C - Electrolytic Capacitor 2001 2002 2010
22 I&C - I/P and E/P Transducer 2001 2002 2010
23 I&C - Pneumatic Controller 2001 2002 2010
24 I&C – Positioner 2001 2002 2010
25 I&C - Pressure Regulator 2001 2002 2010
26 I&C - Pressure Sensor And Transmitter 2001 2002 2010
27 I&C - Pressure Switch 2001 2002 2010
28 I&C - Signal Conditioner 2001 2002 2010
29 I&C - Temperature Switch 2001 2002 2010
30 Load Tap Changer - Substation - Oil Immersed 2004 2010
31 Load Tap Changer - Substation - Vacuum Bottle 2004 2010
32 Motor - Direct Current 1999 2002 2010
33 Motor - Low Voltage - <600V 1999 2002 2010
34 Motor - Low Voltage Wound Rotor - <600V 1999 2002 2010
35 Motor - Medium Voltage - <15kV 1999 2002 2010
36 Pump – Horizontal 1999 2010
37 Relay - Control – Electromechanical 1999 2003 2010
38 Relay - Control - Solid State 1999 2003 2010
39 Relay - Protective – Electromechanical 1999 2003 2010
40 Relay - Protective - Solid State 1999 2003 2010
41 Relay – Timing 1999 2003 2010
42 Switchgear - Low Voltage 1999 2003 2010
43 Switchgear - Medium Voltage - 1kV to 7kV 1999 2003 2010
44 Switchgear - Motor Control Centers 1999 2003 2010
45 Transformer - Station Aux_Startup – LTC 2003 2010
46 Transformer - Station Aux_Startup - No LTC 2003 2010
47 Transformer - Station Load Center Oil Fill Bushing 2003 2010
48 Transformer - Station Load Center Solid Bushing 2003 2010
49 Transformer - Station MPT_GSU 1999 2003 2010
50 Transformer - Substation – LTC 2003 2010
51 Transformer - Substation - No LTC 2003 2010
52 Turbine - Terry - Single Stage 1999 2010
53 Valve - Air Operated - AOV – Diaphragm 2003 2003 2010
54 Valve - Air Operated - AOV – Piston 2003 2003 2010
55 Valve - Check – Duo 1999 2003 2010
56 Valve - Check - Piston – Lift 1999 2003 2010
57 Valve - Check – Swing 1999 2003 2010
58 Valve - Check - Tilting Disk 1999 2003 2010
59 Valve - Motor Operated – MOV 1999 2003 2010
60 Valve - Power Operated Relief – Pneumatic Actuated 1999 2003 2010
61 Valve - Power Operated Relief - Solenoid Actuated 1999 2010
62 Valve - Pressure Relief - Spring Actuated 1999 2003 2010
63 Valve - Solenoid Operated – SOV 1999 2003 2010
64 Voltage Regulator – Substation 2003 2010

PMBD Template Data and Information Access for EPRI Members

Several PMBD users (Nuclear and Generation) and members have expressed an interest in having the ability to be more involved with the PMBD component template review process.

As previously stated, there are 152 component templates in the PMBD. To ensure consistent reviews, we ask that the individuals participating in the PMBD template reviews be familiar with and adhere to the guidance provided in the PMBD Maintenance and Control Process Procedure and Content Review Process guidance document. These guidance documents are both available with the PMBD template data and information.

The PMBD component data tables, component definitions, and component task information are presently available for each of the 152 PMBD component templates, along with the PMBD Maintenance and Control Process and Content Review Process guidance documents. This information is available to PMBD users and members on the following websites:

The PMBDUG Website located at www.epri.com/PMBDUG


Select “Templates & Information,” and then expand the component type to the desired component.


Each component template contains the same data and information. Each will have the component’s data table (FMEA), definitions, template, and task descriptions.

The EPRI Collaboration Website located at www.epri.com/EPRI Collaboration/Preventive Maintenance (PM) Nuclear Center/Documents/EPRI PMBD Template Library
This is the EPRI Collaboration, Preventive Maintenance (PM) Nuclear Center website.

The EPRI Collaboration website will be displayed.

Scroll down the page, and select “Preventive Maintenance (PM) Nuclear Center.”

You will be directed to a Terms of Use screen. Select “Accept,” and continue to the Preventive Maintenance (PM) Nuclear Center website.

Select “Documents,” which opens the documents library. Select “EPRI PMBD Template Library,” which opens the library to display the component types. Select the desired component type to display the individual components. Select the desired component to display the component template data and information.

Again, each component template contains the same data and information. Each will have the component’s data table Failure Modes Effects and Analysis (FMEA), definitions, template, and task descriptions.

PMBD Suggestions and Recommendations from EPRI Members

Several PMBD users (Nuclear and Generation) and members have expressed an interest in having the ability to provide suggestions and feedback for existing PMBD component templates, development of new PMBD templates, and features of the PMBD. You now can provide suggestions in two locations. The first location is at the Preventive Maintenance Basis Database User Group website at www.epri.com/PMBDUG



Post your suggestions to be considered for upcoming updates and enhancements.

The second location is at the EPRI Collaboration Website at www.epri.com.
Log in to the EPRI website as you normally would, and select “EPRI Collaboration” from the tool bar across the top of the page. After the collaboration site has opened, scroll down the page to locate and select “Preventive Maintenance (PM) Nuclear Center.” A Terms of Use page will appear requiring you to accept the terms and conditions to proceed. When the Preventive Maintenance (PM) Nuclear Center site opens, you will see five buttons across the top of the page. Select the “Discussions” button.


Post your suggestions to be considered for upcoming updates and enhancements.

PMBD User’s Guide Update

As previously discussed, PMBD 2.0 has been revised to be Windows Vista® and Windows® 7 compatible. While in the process of revising PMBD 2.0, other identified bugs were addressed. The duplication of template updates and vulnerability calculation errors have corrected. In 2008, the PMBD 2.0 User’s Guide was developed as an aide for PMBD users. The information contained in the guide is still applicable for PMBD 2.1; however, during the first quarter of 2010, enhancements and revisions for the PMBD User’s Guide will be developed and should be available to the membership around the end of the second quarter of 2010.

PMBD Upcoming Events:

The PMBD has been developed, through membership funding, into a multipurpose, multifunctional toolbox that is intended to be a living repository and to aid its users with the analysis, development, and documentation of the maintenance strategy for plant equipment. At present, approximately 80% of the membership use the PMBD in some capacity for developing the maintenance strategy of their plant equipment. However, most users are not familiar with or have never been shown the many tools and uses that are available to them with the PMBD. In an effort to reduce this gap, informational and training web casts and training workshops are being developed to inform and train PMBD users on the multiple uses of the PMBD.

Annual PMBD UG Meeting

The next PMBD UG meeting will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina on August 10, 2010. The PMBD UG Meeting is open to all EPRI members. However, there will be a charge to cover meeting expenses for those participants who are not contributing members of the Supplemental NMAC PMBD Program. Invitations and registration information will be sent out in advance. All participants wishing to attend will be required to register for the event.

PMBD Informational and/or Training Web Casts

Below is a tentative list of upcoming web casts that you, as a user of the PMBD, should plan to sit in on. It is expected that the amount of time for these web casts will be from 1 to 2 hours, maximum. As the time for each event approaches, notifications will be sent out for your response and registration.

  • PMBD 2.1 Overview
  • PMBD Tool Orientation
  • Introduction to Utilizing the PMBD Vulnerability Tool (three web casts)
  • Determining Maintenance Program Effectiveness
  • The Attributes of a “Living PM Program”

If there are other subjects that you would like to see covered, contact Jim McKee.

PMBD Training Workshops

Below is a tentative list of upcoming PMBD training workshops that you, as a user of the PMBD, should plan to attend. It is expected that the duration for each workshop will be two days. Each workshop will be limited to 10 participants minimum and 25 participants maximum. An interest survey will be sent out, at least two months in advance of each workshop, to determine the amount of interest. If enough interest is shown, additional workshops can be scheduled to accommodate the number of participants. Otherwise, the workshops will be on a first come, first served basis.

There will be a charge to cover meeting expenses. For those participants who are contributing members of the Supplemental NMAC PMBD Program, the participation fees will be reduced. Invitations and registration information will be sent out in advance. All participants wishing to attend will be required to register for the event.

  • Utilizing the PMBD to Analyze and Document the Maintenance Strategy for Plant Equipment
  • Utilizing the PMBD Vulnerability Tool to Maximize Limited Plant Resources
  • Moving from Just Preventing Equipment Failures to Monitoring Equipment Degradation

If there are other subjects that you would like to see covered, contact Jim McKee.

If you have any questions, suggestions, and/or recommendations, or if you or anyone within your organization has the expertise for a particular component or component type and would like to participate as an SME in the review process, contact Jim McKee, 256.548.0329, jmckee@epri.com.

Transformer Paper Sample

Kraft paper is used as the wire insulation for oil-immersed transformers. In Europe, transformers are typically designed to International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards and use standard kraft paper for bulk insulation. Most transformers specified in the United States use thermally upgraded kraft paper as the wire insulation.

In order to determine the degradation of paper, furanic compounds in oil and the degree of polymerization of paper are used. When paper decomposes thermally, some oil-soluble chemical compounds are released in addition to carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide gases. These are known as furanic compounds, the principal one being 2-furfuraldehyde. There is growing interest in developing diagnostic techniques based on the presence of these compounds to identify when an abnormal rate of thermal decomposition of insulation exists because the test can be made on an oil sample taken while the transformer is in service.

As paper ages, it becomes brittle. A measure of the brittleness can be determined by a test called degree of polymerization (DP). The cellulose molecules in paper consist of long chains of glucose rings. As the paper ages, the length of the glucose rings shortens, which causes brittleness of the insulating paper. The DP test measures the average number of glucose rings in a paper sample. A decrease in the DP is an indicator of insulating paper aging.

Although these techniques hold promise for providing condition monitoring techniques for operating transformers, the manner in which transformers are operated does not provide a general basis from which to make comparisons. Network transformers are not typically consistently loaded, and when there is a problem, it is usually attributable to another problem, not insulation aging. However, generator step-up (GSU) transformers at base-loaded power plants provide a better test bed to obtain baseline information. Taking actual paper samples from the hot spot of failed, aged, and fully loaded transformers (that is, GSUs) will provide valuable data. This is possibly a unique opportunity for the industry to develop baseline data for the DP of kraft paper and thermally upgraded paper and to compare these data to transformer loading.

The suggested approach to this project would be:

  • Obtain paper samples from GSU transformers.
  • Compare paper samples taken from inaccessible areas (transformer hot spot) and also paper from accessible areas (leads) of transformers undergoing rebuild or post-failure evaluation.
  • Compare DP data from the hot spot and other paper samples to furan information.

Once the project is complete, a comparison of the performance of thermally upgraded and nonthermally upgraded paper will provide insight into actual paper aging processes and transformer loading. Another outcome would be a correlation to the IEEE and IEC loading guide and determine the actual age of the paper(s). Because transformers that have been fully loaded and are being scheduled for replacement will be sought for this project, aged paper can be obtained and used to determine a direct correlation and validation of measured DP to end-of-paper-life industry guidance.

In order for this project to be successful, it will require the participation of plants that are retiring GSU transformers. When the transformer has been selected for scrapping, paper samples from accessible lead areas and the transformer hot spot will need to be obtained. After the paper samples are acquired, the paper DP will be measured and correlated to transformer loading and other data. Comparison between thermally upgraded and nonthermally upgraded paper could also be made.

This project will require considerable logistical efforts, and a final technical report is anticipated to be completed by 2012.

To provide paper samples for this project or for more information, contact Wayne Johnson, 704.595.2551, wejohnson@epri.com.

Industry Issues

Industry Focus on Balance of Plant (BOP) Air-Operated Valves

Recently, the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) released their second round of issues from the newly formed Important Issues List. The purpose of this list is to raise awareness on select trends that may have emerged or reemerged in the industry. One of the issues included balance of plant (BOP) air-operated valve (AOV) failures. BOP AOVs have accounted for ~7 million MWeHrs in lost generation over the last five years, which contributed to the industry not achieving the 1.0 forced loss rate (FLR) goal. The majority of events have occurred within the feedwater system, where EPIX data indicates that positioners and controls are causes of more than half of the failures.


Lost Generation Per Year Due to AOVs

NMAC has been working with the AOV User Group (AUG) to determine a course of action for resolving some of these issues. The following projects have been proposed for 2010:

  • Revision to Valve Positioner Principles and Maintenance Guide (1003091)
    Published in 2002, the Valve Positioner Principles and Maintenance Guide covers the control loop description, positioner design, calibration, and maintenance practices needed for reliable operation. A gap analysis suggests two missing pieces—more focus on delivering the control signal and discussion on digital controls, including application guidance. As plants continue to perform component upgrades, more are focusing on digital positioners; however, at the time of publication, very few plants had experience with digital positioners.

  • Development of a Diagnostic Guide
    The purpose of this document would be to establish guidance for successful and efficient valve diagnostic tests. The document would cover discussion on which valves to test, test methods and descriptions, proper test setup, test duration, and trace analysis. The end result will be a product that helps balance staff workload while ensuring equipment reliability. Such a guide would be beneficial to both domestic and international NMAC members.

  • Preventive Maintenance (PM) Basis Template Update
    PM templates are designed to provide plants with a baseline approach to maintenance tasks and frequencies based on industry operating experience and failure mechanisms. Plants start with the template and incorporate their own unique operating experience, environmental conditions, and economic considerations to adjust the PM frequencies. Over time, failure modes can change or new condition monitoring tools become available, which require the templates to be revised. NMAC will be revisiting both AOV PM templates to ensure that the information is the most current.

For more information about industry initiatives to drive down BOP AOV failures, contact Nick Camilli, 704.595.2594, ncamilli@epri.com.

NMAC to Begin Project to Improve Member Utilization of Maintenance and Equipment Reliability Products

Over the years, EPRI has produced numerous products that both address maintenance issues on power plant equipment and focus on improving its reliability. However, the nuclear power industry does not always effectively track, assess, and ultimately implement these products into the day-to-day operations of their power plants. The net effect of this is that it reduces the value of EPRI membership and the effectiveness of technology transfer. In some ways, it keeps EPRI members from fully realizing improvements in plant operations that they could derive from their membership.

Background

In-depth reviews of events over the last two years have shown that some of the leading causes of these plant events and issues have been worker errors, worker practices, and maintenance practices. These types of errors would imply that there is a significant gap between the information that is available to maintenance personnel and the information that is needed to properly conduct basic maintenance tasks.

A review of the information available from EPRI technical reports, users groups, and other organizations show that there is a large body of detailed information that should have precluded many of the events. The question then becomes whether the current body of information contains the necessary information to prevent these events. A review of the existing information indicates that there is sufficient applicable information to avoid the events.

Having acknowledged that the information exists and is applicable, it is necessary to look for other issues that can account for the failure to use the information. One of the primary problems may actually be the large volume of information available. Additionally, staff reductions and the increased use of supplemental personnel have made the study of the many volumes of EPRI information impractical.

Project Plan

The focus of this project will be on identifying information that is specifically directed at maintenance tasks that are performed as part of preventive or corrective maintenance. Where necessary, this project will identify new or improved delivery tools for information so that the existing information can be packaged for more effective use by the members.

In order to manage this project in reasonable pieces, the information will be evaluated on a system-by-system basis. The first pilot system will be key components in the feedwater system that have historically provided the greatest challenges to members. The components that have been chosen are main feedwater pumps (including motors and turbine drives) and significant air-operated valves (including main feedwater regulating valves). There are currently several NMAC maintenance guides that are directly related to these important feedwater system components and a number of additional maintenance guides that are applicable to these feedwater system components.

The approach that will be used is to collect several representative work packages for the identified feedwater system components from members. These procedures will be evaluated step by step to identify the requisite skills for successful completion of these steps.

These skills will then be associated with existing skill verification modules in the EPRI Plant Support Engineering (PSE) Standardized Task Evaluation (STE) program. Once this step is completed, a gap analysis will be performed to identify the research gaps and technical information gaps that may exist in the existing NMAC maintenance guides. A review of more effective methods to accomplish the knowledge transfer of the existing products will be conducted, and recommendations identified.


Developing Valve Maintenance Skills

Value

This project will focus on developing methods for improving the delivery of specific information to members so that they can more effectively locate and utilize the large amounts of information that are available to them. The results will be intended for use by the maintenance technician, maintenance planner, procedure writer, and maintenance training organization. Our intent for this project is to leverage the knowledge and skills of existing EPRI and NMAC staff, as well as industry personnel with expertise in the selected areas who will serve as participants in the technical advisory group (TAG). This will enhance the value to the membership by making use of personnel who are most familiar with the issues and the problems experienced by plant operators.

If you would like to learn more about this project or to participate in this effort as a member of the TAG, contact Mike Pugh, 919.812.5162, mpugh@epri.com.

Work Under Way on Comprehensive Pump Maintenance Guidance

As detailed in the November NMAC Memo, NMAC has begun a project to develop a comprehensive pump resource for use by members in managing this important power plant asset.

The project is well under way, and one of the highlights will be a web-based application that will enable members to navigate to the various NMAC products that exist but also to other resources such as pump program description and self-assessment aids, an industry pump database, and pump repair specifications.

Navigation to these resources is intended to include drop-down menus, search features, and other common methods to help members quickly locate what they are looking for. Access will continue to be through established EPRI membership controls.



Member Value

Anticipated value to members is that the final product will serve as a road map to member personnel on existing NMAC products and also resources that will enable them to better maintain and troubleshoot problems with power plant pumps. The report will help to educate and quickly familiarize new and existing plant personnel on the information that is available for maintaining their pumps.

The approach to the project is to leverage the knowledge and skills of the Pump Users Group as well as industry personnel who have been asked to serve as participants in the technical advisory group. This will enhance the value to the membership by making use of personnel who are most familiar with pumps and the problems experienced by plant operators.

If you would like to learn more about this project or to participate in the technical advisory group, contact Mike Pugh, 919.812.5162, mpugh@epri.com.

A Preventive Maintenance Program Designed to Manage Equipment Degradation Rather Than Just Prevent Equipment Failures

Over the years, EPRI has provided the industry with many technical documents that have aided in the development and implementation of preventive maintenance (PM), predictive maintenance (PdM), and condition monitoring programs, all of which have been aimed at and effective in preventing equipment failures. In past years, with an abundance of labor resources, this was an effective approach to maintaining equipment reliability and availability while minimizing maintenance cost and maximizing generation capacities. However, in recent years, for plants to remain competitive and minimize power production costs, the size of the work force has been reduced. As a result, many PM, PdM, and condition monitoring tasks and activities have had to be deferred or done away with, leaving equipment susceptible to failure and unreliable.

To counteract this problem, efforts to develop, implement, and incorporate PM programs that are looking at the different equipment failure locations and their degradation mechanisms need to be implemented with a primary focus on the PM strategies that are highly effective in identifying the equipment’s largest majority of potential degradation mechanisms. With the implementation of this type of PM strategy, plants will be able to better use and focus their available resources in the areas that will provide the most information as to the overall operating condition of various equipment, thus reducing maintenance costs and maintaining equipment reliability and availability.

To aid with the development of a PM program that has the capabilities to manage equipment degradation, several areas need to be identified and documented:

  • Identify the major industry equipment types and subsets of each equipment type.
  • Establish equipment analysis boundaries.
  • Identify each failure location, degradation mechanism, degradation influence, and discovery method or prevention opportunity for each equipment type and/or its subsets.
  • Identify the most highly effective tasks for each equipment type and its subsets.
  • Using the EPRI Preventive Maintenance Basis Database (PMBD) as the repository for this information, ensure that all the major industry equipment types and their subsets are included in the PMBD.
  • Develop a degradation modeling tool to work in conjunction with the PMBD Vulnerability Tool to aid plant management with maintenance decisions based on risk.

This project will provide the membership with an effective way to identify, track, and monitor potential equipment degradation mechanisms so that corrective measures can be implemented in a timely manner without jeopardizing equipment availability and/or reliability. The project will have these benefits:

  • It will provide the membership with a single point of reference.
  • The information can be applied to all member plants.
  • The application of this product will also have the ability to help eliminate ineffective or inefficient maintenance (PM, PdM, and condition monitoring) activities, resulting in a reduction of costs while maximizing available resources.
  • The application of this product will identify the most effective activities that should be in place to ensure equipment reliability and availability, thus reducing equipment failures that typically result in immediate and widespread costly repairs.

As the project progresses, industry subject matter experts (SMEs) for various equipment types will be contacted. They will be asked to review and comment on the identified equipment information as it is developed and to participate in web cast discussions, if necessary.

If you or someone within your organization is interested in serving as an equipment type SME, contact Jim McKee, 256.548.0329, jmckee@epri.com.

Preventive Maintenance: A “Living” Program

Over the years, EPRI has developed many technical documents for the industry to aid with developing effective maintenance (preventive, predictive, and condition monitoring) programs to ensure equipment reliability and availability. The industry has drawn on this information to establish preventive maintenance (PM) programs or enhance existing programs. However, in some cases, not all PM program processes have been implemented, and in turn, some programs have been left ineffective and vulnerable to failure. A PM program is designed to be a “living” program, ever changing, ever evolving. If the program is rigid and/or becomes stagnant, it will fail, leaving equipment vulnerable.

Like plants, the industry’s engineering and maintenance work force is aging and being replaced with young, inexperienced personnel. Their knowledge of EPRI technical information offerings about implementing and maintaining a living PM program needs to be addressed. To make all this information readily available to the membership, the information needs to be developed and compiled into one reference source that contains all the attributes of a living PM program.

To aid with the development of a technical document that incorporates all the facets of a living PM program, many areas within a PM program will need to be identified, addressed, and documented:

  • Identify all the attributes of a living PM program and how they relate.
  • Identify and review existing EPRI technical documents, making revisions as necessary.
  • Compile the living PM program information into one document, referencing existing information as necessary.
  • Develop a living PM program flowchart.

This project will provide an effective way for the membership to assess their existing PM program and ensure that they have an effective living PM program implemented that does the following:

  • It will provide the end user with a single point of reference.
  • The information can be applied to all member plants.
  • The application of this product will identify the most effective activities that should be in place to ensure continued equipment reliability, thus reducing equipment failures, which typically result in immediate and widespread costly repairs and a loss of generation.

As the project progresses, industry subject matter experts (SMEs) will be contacted and asked for their assistance with the development of the living PM program document. Serving as a technical advisory group (TAG) member, they will be asked to provide their knowledge and expertise in the development of the document. They will also be expected to provide document oversight and participate with document reviews and comments, ensuring that the final product meets or exceeds industry standards.

In an effort to minimize expenses and time away from the TAG members’ work, it is expected that the project will require at least one face-to-face meeting to organize the document, and the remaining meetings can be held via web cast. The total time of participation should be approximately 40–60 hours.

If you or someone within your organization is interested in serving as a technical advisor for this endeavor, contact Jim McKee, 256.548-0329, jmckee@epri.com.

Update to NMAC Freeze Sealing Guide

Freeze sealing refers to the process of applying an external refrigerant to a point in a process piping system in order to cause the formation of a solid internal plug from the frozen process fluid contained in the pipe. Because the process fluid in question is commonly water or some mixture thereof, this process is also sometimes referred to as ice plugging. Freeze sealing is most often used to isolate a section of a piping system when no other ready means of isolation, such as valves, are available. In many cases, freeze sealing is performed specifically to perform maintenance or repairs to a system isolation valve. Freeze sealing can also be used to isolate a section of a piping system for hydrostatic testing. Three routine applications for freeze sealing at nuclear power plants are to:

  • Enhance maintenance capabilities during shutdown or outage periods.
  • Provide blocking in lines where valves or stops are not placed.
  • Eliminate the necessity of taking a full system out of service during plant operation, which might cause a limiting condition for operation.

The current guide, Freeze Sealing (Ice Plugging) of Piping, Rev. 1 (TR-016384-R1), was issued in November of 1997. The update to this guide will be used to accomplish the following objectives:

  • Update the existing technical guidance contained in EPRI TR-016384-R1.
  • Address technical issues that are of concern for some utilities, such as metallurgical issues caused by the extremely low temperatures encountered when using liquid nitrogen (-320ºF/-195ºC).
  • Provide increased guidance on the actual steps for safe and successful planning and execution of freeze seals on process piping in plant applications, including contingency planning if problems arise.
  • Identify and summarize industry operating experience with freeze seals since 1997.

In addition to the update of this guide, NMAC will consider developing and conducting a hands-on technical workshop covering the planning, supervision, and performance of freeze seals in accordance with this new guideline, based on direction from the technical advisory group (TAG). The TAG will consist of metallurgical professionals, a freeze sealing company, and utility personnel. A few slots are available on the TAG, which offers participants an opportunity to provide collaborative input to the guide. The update to the guide is anticipated in late 2010.

For more information on this project, contact Gary Boles, 423.870.5979, gboles@epri.com.


Typical Liquid Nitrogen Freeze Jacket

Update to NMAC On-Line Leak Sealing Guide

On-line leak sealing is used extensively in industries including nuclear power plants to address leaks that should not be tolerated, but would require outages to permanently repair. The process may involve several different techniques, such as peening the leaking joint, direct injection of a leak sealant into a component, or encapsulation of the component and injection of a leak sealant into the device. Companies that specialize in such services are usually utilized to perform the work because of its hazardous nature and specialization.

The current guide, On-Line Leak Sealing - A Guide for Nuclear Power Plant Maintenance Personnel (NP-6523-D), was issued in 1989. The update to this guide will be used to accomplish the following objectives:

  • Update the existing technical guidance contained in EPRI NP-6523-D.
  • Identify and summarize industry operating experience with on-line leak sealing since the guide was issued in 1989.
  • Ensure that the current guidance addresses issues such as foreign material exclusion (FME) and over-pressurization and provides adequate caution when working on components that are already degraded due to the effects of leaks, such as steam/water cutting of pressure-retaining parts and metallurgical degradation of the wetted parts.
  • Ensure that contingency planning is adequately addressed should problems arise during the leak sealing process.
  • Provide updated guidance on the actual steps for successful planning and execution of on-line leak sealing in plant applications in a safe manner.

In addition to the update of this guide, NMAC will consider developing and conducting a hands-on technical workshop covering planning, supervising, and performing on-line leak sealing in accordance with this new guideline, based on direction from the technical advisory group (TAG). The TAG will consist of metallurgical professionals, on-line leak sealing companies, and utility personnel. A few slots are still available for the TAG, which offers participants an opportunity to provide collaborative input to the guide. The update to the guide is anticipated in late 2010.

For more information on this project, contact Gary Boles, 423.870.5979, gboles@epri.com.


Typical On Line Leak Sealing Configuration Using Insert Wire, Drilled into a
Pipe Flange with a Leak Seal Injector

NMAC Continuing Efforts with Diesel Generator Maintenance

Last year NMAC worked with U.S.-based emergency diesel generator (EDG) owners groups and published an interim report titled Generator Maintenance Guide for Emergency Diesel Generators (1019146). The primary intent of this document was to provide guidance on generator maintenance and maintenance programs. NMAC is continuing this effort in 2010 and will publish revised guidance later this year.

Well-known EPRI generator consultants Isidor Kerszenbaum (of Southern California Edison) and Geoff Klempner (of AMEC NSS) will be working to produce a revised draft that will be reviewed by utility personnel and utility members of the industry’s emergency diesel generator owners groups.

Although generators have been highly reliable over the past 40 years, some plants have identified issues through inspection and testing which demonstrate that more detailed maintenance of these generators should be considered. In addition, with plants moving to life extension, some sites are investigating the maintenance that should be done to ensure a high degree of reliability throughout a 60-year plant life. Consequently, industry personnel suggested that EPRI investigate diesel generator maintenance.

EPRI 1019146 provides an overview of industry challenges regarding EDG generator maintenance, a discussion of generator issues identified through industry experience, a list of nonintrusive generator maintenance activities and their limitations, a discussion on additional prudent generator maintenance activities, and a discussion on practical strategies to address EDG generator maintenance.

For additional information on this effort or to be added to a notification list for this effort, contact Jim Sharkey, 704.595.2557, jsharkey@epri.com.


GE Generator (Nordberg EDG) drive end view

EPRI Revising Condition-Based Maintenance Guidance

Since the 1980s, EPRI has published numerous documents relating to predictive or condition-based maintenance technologies and programs. Many of these documents are now more than 10 years old. As a result, NMAC is performing a comprehensive review of all predictive and condition-based maintenance publications to compare and contrast existing documents with current best practices, programs, and technologies. The goal is to identify gaps, areas in need of revision, and areas where more focused effort and clarity would prove beneficial. This effort will utilize a utility technical advisory group (TAG) that was formed during previous Predictive Maintenance Users Group meetings.

EPRI’s intent is to develop a principal document on predictive and condition-based maintenance, which will include program implementation, development, metrics, etc. This document will consolidate elements of various existing EPRI documents, including:

  • Predictive Maintenance Guidelines, Volumes 1-4, TR-103374
  • Predictive Maintenance Program: Development and Implementation, TR-108936
  • Predictive Maintenance Program Implementation Experience, TR-111915
  • Performance Metrics for Condition-Based Maintenance Technology Application Programs, 1003682
  • Predictive Maintenance Assessment Guidelines, TR-109241
  • Predictive Maintenance Self-Assessment Guidelines for Nuclear Power Plants, 1001032

A draft of this document will be developed by EPRI personnel and consultants and reviewed by a utility TAG. The purpose of the TAG will be to review drafts and provide input and direction to the overall effort, primarily via e-mails and conference calls.

For more information on this effort or to be added to a list of interested utility personnel, contact Jim Sharkey, 704.595.2057, jsharkey@epri.com.

Development of Copper Book Continues

EPRI is developing a comprehensive document that reviews the current industry guidance for the application and maintenance of power transformers. The report has been given the nickname “the Copper Book.” This name represents the latest in a series of reports that have been developed by the EPRI Power Delivery and Utilization Group, with each major equipment area being assigned a different color.

The development of the Copper Book is sponsored by multiple programs within EPRI. The Nuclear, Power Delivery, and Generation sectors are combining efforts in both funding and expertise in the development of this project. The members of each sector use transformers in conducting their activities; however, each sector uses transformers in a slightly different manner. For instance, base-loaded stations typically run their transformers fully loaded for the life of the units, whereas load-following or peaking generating stations operate based on load requirements, and power delivery or networked transformers are rarely fully loaded. With the varying requirements, EPRI has set out to write a report that will address the various ways in which transformers are applied and maintained to meet the needs of their users.

The project is a multiyear effort that is focused on collecting, combining, and highlighting the current guidance for the application and maintenance of power transformers. The transformers covered in this report are primarily liquid-filled and forced-cooled transformers used for the production and transmission of electric power.

The Copper Book work for 2009 consisted of completing an update to EPRI Transformer Guidebook Development (1017734) that added fundamentals (Section 1) and maintenance (Section 9). The sections that had no detailed information were enhanced by adding references to other EPRI guides that can provide information for that specific section.

Copper Book work for 2010 will include updates to previous sections, if necessary, and will add two sections: Operations (Section 7) and Monitoring & Diagnostics (Section 8). The Power Transformer Working Group will review the content of the report along with advisors from other groups.

If you are interested in participating in the development of the Copper Book, contact Wayne Johnson, 704.595.2551, wejohnson@epri.com.

Dry-Type Transformers and Reactors

Whether at a power generating station, industrial facility, or large office building, dry-type transformers are typically used to provide electric power. The dry-type transformer is most adaptable to indoor service, provided sufficient cooling air is available.

As many nuclear power plants approach 30 or more years of operating life, there is a concern for the continued operation of many safety-related components, including dry-type transformers. Since the performance and availability of existing plants have been greatly improved, many plants have been slated for life extension. Some plants have performed power uprates that have either consumed much, if not all, of the original design margin that may have existed when a plant was designed or when it required more power and thus larger transformers. With these multiple drivers along with a keen focus on equipment reliability, NMAC has been tasked to look at the performance and maintenance practices for dry-type transformers used in nuclear power plants.

The project team will collect and review dry-type transformer performance information from industry sources. The information will be consolidated to provide a clear picture of equipment operating history. The focus of the project will be the transformers that power unit substations and key safety buses. A review of maintenance practices and condition monitoring guidance used to ensure reliable dry-type transformer performance will be part of the outcome of this project.

The plan is to deliver a technical maintenance guide for dry transformers and reactors by the end of 2010.

For more information, contact Wayne Johnson, 704.595.2551, wejohnson@epri.com.

Dry Cask Handling and Storage

Multipurpose Canister Storage Overpack, Figure 4-7
from EPRI Multipurpose Canister System Design
Synopsis Report
, TR-106962

As a nuclear plant continues to operate, it becomes necessary to remove used fuel bundles and other reactor material and place them in storage pools. This material is stored there for a period of time until other storage decisions are made. However, pool space is limited, and as plants continue to operate, spent fuel pools at nuclear power plants fill up. It becomes necessary to open up more space in these pools for recently removed fuel.

When nuclear power plants were originally designed and licensed, the plan was to send spent fuel to reprocessing facilities and eventually to a geological repository. Until reprocessing or a geological repository is available, plants have to take other measures to create space in their fuel storage pools. One approach that has been used is on-site dry cask storage. Dry casks are an interim storage solution until a new repository is developed since Yucca Mountain has been abandoned.

The approach to developing this guide is to collect industry knowledge and lessons learned from operating experience related to cask handling. An industry forum conducted by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) brings together the various entities that are concerned with the storage of used nuclear fuel. EPRI has done work in the dry cask area and will provide considerable input to this guide.

The guide will address the following issues:

  • Handling used fuel casks
  • Surveillance and monitoring of fuel storage casks
  • Issues related to long-term storage of used fuel in dry casks
  • Lessons learned from industry monitoring, surveillance, and inspection practices for fuel storage casks
  • Possible retrieval methods, if necessary

The guide will provide an expanded knowledge base for the use of dry cask storage, cask handling issues, on-site cask transportation issues, and cask monitoring during storage. The goal is to complete the guide in 2010.

For more information, contact Wayne Johnson, 704.595.2551, wejohnson@epri.com.

Switchyard Equipment

Due to various issues in the industry, power plants have become responsible for the reliability of switchyard equipment. Deregulation in the power industry has caused a separation between the companies that generate power and those that deliver power to the customer. Along with deregulation, 10CFR50.65 (Maintenance Rule) and INPO AP913 have required nuclear power plants to focus on equipment that will maintain plant and component reliability. As a result of the 2005 Energy Policy Act, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation was given the power to be the electric reliability organization (ERO). This organization has developed a standard that requires plants to develop a document that defines the interface between and responsibilities of the generator operator and the associated transmission entities.

When companies were vertically integrated, the generating station could rely on another company group or division for maintaining switchyard equipment. However, with regulatory and other requirements taking effect, the plants have become responsible for maintenance of some switchyard equipment. These and other changes are driving generating station personnel to develop the skills necessary to maintain this equipment. In conjunction with equipment reliability requirements, other issues, such as power plant uprates and equipment aging, are converging that affect current switchyard equipment.

In order to fully understand the extent of switchyard equipment that plant personnel should be concerned with, a review of typical power plant switchyard designs should be done in order to focus on major equipment and/or components. The following equipment can be found in one form or another in most power plant switchyards:

Power transformers

  • GSUs
  • Auxiliary
  • Reserves or startups
  • Instrument transformer
    – Voltage
    – Current

Circuit breakers

  • Oil
  • Air
  • SF6

Disconnects

  • Manual
  • Motor operated

Surge and lightning arresters

Bus work

Control house

  • Relays
  • Metering
  • Communications
  • DC control power
    – Battery charger
    – Stationary battery

In developing this guide, the project will leverage existing knowledge of equipment, such as stationary batteries, power transformers, and other components, that is available in existing EPRI reports. The Transformer and Switchyard Users Group (TSUG) can serve as a technical resource for the project.

For more information, contact Wayne Johnson, 704.595.2551, wejohnson@epri.com.

NMAC Meetings

EPRI MOV PPM Users Group Update

The EPRI Motor-Operated Valve (MOV) Performance Prediction Methodology (PPM) Users Group met via web cast on February 4, 2010. The group reviewed progress that was made in 2009 and discussed activities that should be pursued in 2010.

The 2009 activities that were reviewed included:

  • PPM Version 3.4 was issued in December 2008. Plans called for submission of Version 3.4 for a Safety Evaluation (SE) in late 2009.
  • The NRC issued a final SE in February 2009 on PPM Versions 3.1–3.3, and associated Addenda 5, 6, and 7 to the PPM Topical Report as well as Addenda 3 and 4 that document an improved gate valve unwedging method and a method for using stem nut friction coefficients measured during valve closures for determining unwedging stem nut friction coefficients. The reports associated with these Addenda to the Topical Report are being revised to include the SE, all responses to requests for additional information (RAIs) received during the NRC review, and any changes to the Addenda resulting from the review.
  • A meeting with the NRC was conducted in early March 2009 to review the MCC-Based Motor Torque Periodic Verification Methodology (reported in EPRI report 1015069) in preparation for submittal to the NRC for an SE. Unfortunately, the NRC rejected our request to waive the substantial review costs for this document; accordingly, EPRI will not pursue an SE on the methodology. Any technical issues associated with this report will have to be addressed on a plant-specific basis.
  • Work required to modify the PPM to allow SI units and its use with the Windows Vista® operating system will be evaluated.
  • PPM training was conducted July 15–17, 2009, at EPRI Charlotte.

Potential 2010 activities include:

  • PPM training will be conducted July 14–16, 2010, at EPRI Charlotte.
  • Publish dash A (NRC Approved) versions of PPM Topical Report Addenda 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 by May 2010.
  • PPM Version 3.4 will be submitted .to the NRC for SE.
  • Initiate a two-year project to develop PPM Version 3.5. The new version will incorporate corrections based on recent error reports and the NRC’s review of PPM Versions 3.1–3.3 including compatibility with Windows Vista® and the Windows® 7 operating systems and inclusion of SI unit capability.

For additional information, contact John Hosler, 704.595.2720, jhosler@epri.com.

Additional Intensive Four-Day Terry Turbine Training and TTUG Summer Meeting Scheduled


First Intensive Four-Day Terry Turbine Hands-On Training at EPRI Charlotte

In 2008, an international EPRI member company asked NMAC to provide an intensive Terry Turbine training session for up to 15 participants (see photo above) using the training turbine that EPRI had on loan from the Tennessee Valley Authority. EPRI put together a training plan with both of its instructors, Jim Kelso and Ken Wheeler. In the four full days of the training, approximately 28 of the 32 hours were spent in hands-on training, and the balance was in the classroom, as requested. A detailed agenda is available from the Terry Turbine Users Group (TTUG) website at the NMAC subscriber site.

For 2010, NMAC is again offering to our members the intensive four-day Terry Turbine Training Workshop to be held May 17–20, 2010, at EPRI Charlotte. The session is limited to 20 participants; however, we polled our TTUG members to determine the interest in such a session and how many participants each member would send. The response indicated well over 20. Consequently, the slots were distributed equitably to all members who requested them.

A second session may be offered later this year, and a list of interested participants has already been started. If interested, contact Dave Dobbins to be considered.
The training fee is $1500 per participant for the four full days of training, which is limited to NMAC members. This methodical, detailed training is not available anywhere else in the world.

The Summer 2010 Terry Turbine User Group Meeting is scheduled for July 13–15 (Tuesday–Thursday), 2010, in the Denver Tech Center at the Embassy Hotel in Centennial, Colorado. The GE Boiling Water Reactor Owners Group (BWROG) will meet with the TTUG on Monday and on Thursday afternoon. Key areas to cover includes recent operating experience, service issues on Woodward Governors beginning in September 2010, and updates from all on their planned plant Terry Turbine controls replacement and the timing.

In odd-numbered years (for example, 2009 and 2011), NMAC holds refresher Terry Turbine training over a two-day period that covers:

  • Turbine disassembly and reassembly with Jim Kelso and Ken Wheeler.
  • Trip and throttle valve disassembly and reassembly with Jim Nixon of C-W Gimbel.
  • Electric and hydraulic governors with ESI instructors Paul Feltz and Chris Payne. (Also, in 2009, Paul Feltz put together a special class on the Woodward 505 governor.)
  • Overspeed trip types with Chan Patel of Exelon Clinton and Bill Stuart of ILD Power.

This Terry Turbine training is a four-hour refresher course—not an intensive four-day training session—that is a quick overview of most of the Terry Turbine and its systems. Here again, class sizes are limited to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to participate, not merely observe. Normally, in odd-numbered years, NMAC offers two two-day workshops—A (Monday and Tuesday) and B (Thursday and Friday)—with a meeting all day on Wednesday.

For 2011, the plan is to transition to having only one workshop again on Monday and Tuesday with a meeting following that lasts one-and-one-half days or two full days. Therefore, there will be a limit on the TTUG Workshop in 2011 of no more than 80 attendees. This process of change is being worked out with the past and present TTUG officers and NMAC management.

To register for the TTUG meeting this summer, click on this link http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=8e05f64c-f954-43cb-a1d2-6b9c3584b382. You do not need an EPRI ID and password to register and pay for this meeting.

For more information, contact Dave Dobbins, 704.595.2560, ddobbins@epri.com.

2010 Circuit Breaker Users Groups Meeting

Preparations for the 2010 circuit breaker users groups meeting are well under way. The groups will meet in Columbia, South Carolina, during the week of June 14–18. A tentative meeting agenda is posted on the EPRI Events Calendar on epri.com.

The groups are developing a list of prioritized issues that they are addressing through working groups and EPRI initiatives. This list will be discussed during the June meeting and subsequently published on the EPRI website.

The 2010 meeting agenda will focus on working group meetings to resolve specific issues, presentations on significant industry events, training, workshops, and facility tours. More specifically, this year’s meeting will feature a tour of the ABB circuit breaker facility in Florence, South Carolina, working groups for ABB circuit breakers, motor control center maintenance, guidance for training new engineers, bus maintenance and monitoring, and guidance for managing a circuit breaker program.

Specific presentations that have already been identified include:

  • Columbia’s nonsegregated bus failure presentation
  • Reports from each respective working group
  • Overview of new EPRI documents on (1) grounding and (2) clearance and tagging
  • Industry event on the topic of energizing a masin transformer with grounds still attached
  • Industry analysis of operating experience over the last year
  • Users group organizational update

Potential presentations include:

  • Industry generator breaker failures
  • Restrike voltage determination
  • Primary stab degradation mechanisms and failures
  • New equipment presentation by Megger
  • Circuit breaker program assessments
  • Circuit breaker program overview presentations by specific plants or utilities

Workshops will be provided by Westinghouse and ABB. In addition to a tour of their facility, ABB will provide workshops on operation and maintenance of their K-Line and HK circuit breakers. The Westinghouse workshop will include both DB and DS breakers and will cover mechanical inspections, adjustments, and lubrication.

For more information about any of the circuit breaker users groups, contact Jim Sharkey, 704.595.2557, jsharkey@epri.com.

PRDIG Holds Annual Meeting

On January 20, 2010, the 13th annual Pressure Relief Device Interest Group (PRDIG) meeting was held. Despite the present situation in the economy, no reduction in the number of meeting attendees (65) was seen.

The presentations were well organized and stimulated some excellent questions and discussions. Three of the presentations (two domestic and one international) provided a comparison of how various utilities have organized their relief valve monitoring and maintenance programs.

Updates were provided on actions pending with the ASME Code Committee for Operation & Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants, issues on testing frequencies experienced by some plants, and information on computer monitoring programs for plant safety relief valves. A demonstration was provided on how to properly determine the “set pressure” of a liquid service relief valve.

The date for the next PRDIG meeting has been tentatively established as January 17–19, 2011, in Orlando, Florida. Details will be announced later, but we already have some topical presentations scheduled for next year.

Safety and Relief Valve Testing and Maintenance Guide (TR 105872)

NMAC is planning to update this document, which was last published in 1996. Many changes have occurred since then. Among the subjects that will be addressed are:

  • Material and design changes
  • Performance issues
  • Changes and clarifications to the OM section of the ASME Code
  • Maintenance issues
  • Lessons learned

In order to cover all of the variations in valve designs and applications, particularly in the area of main steam safety valves in the BWRs, we anticipate a technical advisory group of approximately 12 individuals.

For more information, contact Bob O’Neill, 508.539.3301, roneill@epri.com.

LEMUG 2010 Activities


Picture courtesy of TVA

The EPRI Large Electric Motor Users Group (LEMUG) plans two meetings for 2010. The winter meeting is scheduled for February 1–4, 2010, in Houston, Texas. A workshop on electric motor testing will be conducted at this meeting on February 1. To reinforce the workshop material, a tour of the Toshiba Motor Manufacturing Facility has been planned.

The actual user group meeting will cover topics related to experience with on-line testing, vibration of high rpm motors, and recommended factory testing of motors. A presentation on the application of dynamic balance absorber to an operating motor will be given. A tutorial will be presented related to motor protection and the philosophy of relay selection.

The August 2010 LEMUG meeting potentially will be a joint motor and pump users group meeting. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the location being considered for this meeting. The workshop topics are still under consideration, but topics related to both pumps and motors, such as lubricants, rotor dynamics, and alignment, will be covered. Plant tours are planned for the Westinghouse and Curtiss-Wright facilities in conjunction with the August meeting.

Along with the user group workshops, case studies, and operating experience presentations, the three LEMUG working groups will be working on several reports. The working groups within LEMUG are:

  • Application Working Group (Clarence Bell – Reliance, chair)
  • Information Working Group (Henry Johnson – Arizona Public Service, chair)
  • Maintenance Working Group (Clifford Both – Public Service Electric and Gas, chair)

The Application Working Group will be working on Replacement Criteria for NEMA Frame Motors. This document will provide guidance for replacing NEMA frame motors that are now provided as premium efficiency, which can affect the motor protection circuit.

The Information Working Group is working on a document that will assist a person in improving their motor skills. This is not a qualification document, but a document to familiarize persons with the information they will need to effectively work on electric motors.

The Maintenance Working Group is working on expanding the material in the existing EPRI report, Troubleshooting of Electric Motors (1000968). This document will provide guidance on diagnosing problems and gathering failure data.

Utility personnel are encouraged to participate with the development of the documents by contacting any of the working group chairs or Wayne Johnson.

Harry R. Smith (Exelon) is the current chair for LEMUG, and the co-chair is Camilo Rodriguez (First Energy). Richard Locke (TVA) is the coordinator and scribe for the users group.

If you are interested in participating with LEMUG or any of its activities, contact Wayne Johnson, 704.595.2551, wejohnson@epri.com.

2010 Joint Pump Users Group and Large Electric Motor Users Group Meeting


Alignment lecture by John Piotrowski at the 2009 PUG meeting

The NMAC Pump Users Group (PUG) continues its strong focus on training not only for young new hires, but also for more experienced workers in need of refresher training in pump fundamentals or pump operation. To that end, at the 2009 PUG meeting four separate workshop sessions were held in two tracks (fundamentals and advanced): Centrifugal Pump Basics, Vibration, Advanced Diagnostics, and Balancing Reactor Coolant Pumps/Reactor Recirculation Pumps. Added training included a half-day alignment workshop that was offered for all participants. Recent pump issues in the industry were covered, and time was also spent sharing and learning from plant operating experiences (OEs).

Three new officers were elected at the 2009 meeting: Art Miller of First Energy as secretary, Tim Buyer of Dominion as lead for guide development and updates, and Craig Jennings of Exelon Corp. as the person to help the PUG to balance BWR content. Congratulations to these new officers.

At the PUG 2009 business session, voting members selected the location for the 2010 meeting. The candidates were Charlotte, North Carolina; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Chicago, Illinois; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the vote was unanimous for Pittsburgh. PUG members also voted to have a joint meeting with the Large Electric Motor Users Group (LEMUG) in the future. Coincidentally, LEMUG also voted to hold their summer 2010 meeting in Pittsburgh.

The joint meeting between PUG and LEMUG is being developed for August 16–20, 2010, at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel in Pittsburgh. The planning for this meeting is not complete, but details will be available soon. You can visit epri.com and search events in Nuclear for August 2010. (You do not need an EPRI ID or password to access the Events calendar nor to register).

The training subjects at the joint meeting of PUG and LEMUG will be such that they will be of interest to both nuclear and fossil and to both pump and motor personnel. In 2010 there will be two days of morning training workshops, now planned with three separate tracks to allow attendees to choose their own training for August 16 and 17. Plans are being developed for joint sessions covering topics of interest to all.

The PUG will continue its emphasis on training for new and for experienced members. NMAC will hold two days of workshops on Monday and Tuesday mornings, and afternoon tours to Westinghouse Waltz Mill on Monday and to Curtiss-Wright EMD will be held on Tuesday. The preliminary training subjects in three separate tracks for both mornings will be Rotor Dynamics, Lubricants, and more on Alignment.

The two workshop/tour days will be followed by two days of NMAC PUG technical meetings, discussing current and on-going pump issues that include, but are not limited to, these OE considerations: foreign material exclusion, gas intrusion, seals, testing, repair specifications, performance and effect on service life, etc. Also, on Thursday, the PUG will have its regular business meeting for members only.

Friday morning has been set aside as time to begin work on updates to NMAC guides and to form working groups for each area to be worked including Feedwater Update, Aging and Obsolescence Issues for Pumps, Foreign Material Exclusion (FME) Guide specific for pumps, etc. Tim Buyer from Dominion North Anna will lead this effort along with an interested PUG member who volunteered to work on developing these guides. Also, a session is planned on reviewing the Preventive Maintenance Basis Database (PMBD) data tables for all pumps contained in PMBD with Jim McKee of NMAC. For the PMBD, the data tables for pumps require reviewing by experts every five years.

Draft Agenda for the Joint PUG-LEMUG Meeting, 08/16–20, 2010, in Pittsburgh

Time Monday 16 Tuesday 17 Wednesday 18 Thursday 19 Friday 20
0700–0800 Register/Breakfast Register/Breakfast Register/Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast
0800–1200 Workshops Workshops Meeting Session Meeting Session Guides Working Groups
1200–1300 Lunch at the Hotel Lunch at the Hotel Lunch Lunch Adjourned, No Lunch
1300–1700 Tour: Westinghouse Tour: C-W EMD Meeting Session Session & Business Meeting  
> 1700 On Your Own On Your Own Vendor Fair Vendor Fair  


NOTE: A reminder that in order to make the PUG Workshop and Meeting better organized, an Early Bird Registration discount will be available through mid-July. Because of import-export screening of every attendee by the EPRI Legal Department, unregistered attendees may be denied access to the meeting. Register online and early.

For more information, contact Jill Lucas, 704.595.2574, jlucas@epri.com or Dave Dobbins, 704.595.2560, ddobbins@epri.com.

Combined Condition-Based Maintenance Meeting Planned for July 2010

 


• Predictive Maintenance Users Group Meeting

• Vibration Technology Forum

• Infrared Thermography Users Group Meeting

• Lubrication and Bearing Workshop

  Nuclear (41), Maintenance Management & Technology (69)


The Combined Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) meeting to be held July 12–16, 2010, will be composed of the four separate groups that are meeting to discuss CBM Programs and Predictive Maintenance (PdM) Technologies solutions to equipment issues affecting our industry.

Background

The Predictive Maintenance Users Group (PdMUG) will meet for two-and-one-half days on July 12–14, 2010; the Vibration Technology Forum (VTF), will meet for two-and-one-half days on July 14–16, 2010; and the Infrared Users Group (IRUG) and Lubrication and Bearing Workshop will meet concurrently for three days on July 13–15, 2010, all in Orlando, Florida.

The PdMUG, VTF, IRUG, and Lubrication and Bearing Workshop provide a forum for EPRI members to exchange information, ideas, successes, problems, and experiences regarding diagnostic monitoring and condition assessment technologies used in predictive maintenance programs. The goal of these forums is to achieve maximum benefit from predictive maintenance programs. Each technology meeting focuses specifically on data collection, analysis, and problem resolution. Each meeting will provide open discussions and presentations in a relaxed environment along with utility problems and solutions, programmatic issues, and technical and application information. Training sessions will be provided, and new technologies and innovations will be highlighted.

Utility Roundtable

Portions of each meeting will feature utility roundtable sessions. These sessions will provide opportunities for utility personnel to share tips, techniques, and information; pose questions to their peers; discuss and attempt to resolve any technical or programmatic issues which their plant may have; and discuss their respective maintenance programs.

Case Studies

These meetings frequently contain case studies or plant experience reports that are informally presented and/or discussed by utility personnel. Case studies typically describe current or past equipment problems; completed, planned, or potential corrective actions; cost benefit information; pictures; data; and any other pertinent information that may assist attendees.

Participants are encouraged to submit and present case studies. EPRI requests that presentation material be submitted by May 3, 2010. The guidelines for case study content are available from EPRI. For each of the groups, contact the following:

PdMUG or VTF - Tom Turek, 484.631.5863, tturek@epri.com
IRUG – Gary Noce, 484.432.9251, gnoce@epri.com
Lubrication & Bearings – Nick Camilli, 704.595.2594, ncamilli@epri.com

For more information or to register for this event, go to www.epri.com, and select the calendar tab on the top of the menu. Select the month, and locate this event by date. Click on the link, and follow the registration instructions. If you experience difficulties or have questions, please contact the meeting planner: Judy Brown, 704.595.2694, jubrown@epri.com.

MRUG Meets New NRC MR Staff at 2009 Summer Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland

The 2009 Maintenance Rule Users Group (MRUG) summer meeting was held in Baltimore, Maryland, on August 4–5, 2009. The two-day meeting with 42 participants consisted of presentations, roundtable discussions, and group breakout sessions. Recent organizational changes in the NRC Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation resulted in new NRC staff, Steve Vaughn and Paul Bonnet, as primary contacts for the Maintenance Rule. They attended both days of the meeting, and Tim Kobetz, their Branch Chief, attended the first day. This gave members an opportunity to introduce themselves—and MRUG—to the industry’s new NRC contacts. It also gave all an excellent forum to discuss the issues that MRUG and the industry are dealing with.

Constellation Energy was the corporate sponsor for the meeting, and Jim Spina, Site VP for Calvert Cliffs, was the keynote speaker. Jim focused on equipment reliability and the role of the Maintenance Rule in achieving higher levels of reliability. He referred to the Maintenance Rule Coordinator (MRC) as the “lynch pin” for other organizations on site, particularly in the Maintenance Rule’s integration with AP-913 to improve reliability. Glen Masters (INPO), Biff Bradley and Victoria Anderson (NEI), and Steve Vaughn (NRC) gave presentations in their respective areas.

On Day 2, Denise Boyle, Frank Zurvalec, and Vicky Harte shared plant experiences from Salem, Davis-Besse, and Kewaunee, respectively. A new working group was formed to review requirements related to (a) (3) assessments and to determine whether a reduction in the assessment effort was justified. Currently, utilities engage in extensive reviews involving teams and often several person-weeks of effort. It is felt that current regulation and guidance might allow a much simpler approach that takes credit for the many programs and processes that have been started since the implementation of the Maintenance Rule.

The following working groups will meet at the winter 2010 meeting:

  • Working Group D – Developing Maintenance Rule Performance Metrics
  • Working Group L – NUMARC 93-01 Revisions
  • Working Group M (New) – Optimize (a) (3) Periodic Assessment

The winter meeting will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 2–4, 2010. The 2010 summer meeting will be in Chicago, Illinois, August 3–4, 2010.

RCRC Working to Improve System Reliability

Two Rod Control Reliability Committee (RCRC) subcommittees were formed during the last RCRC meeting (summer of 2009) to improve rod control system reliability.


New Rod Control System Cabinets

Double Gripper Modification - Subcommittee

The current rod control system design has several single-point vulnerabilities. The proposed double gripper design would eliminate single-point vulnerability for most failures. Several RCRC members volunteered to participate in the development and testing activities for the double gripper design modification.

Testing of Newly Design Circuit Boards - Subcommittee

Obsolescence and end-of-life circuit card failures are being addressed by replacement with newly designed and manufactured cards. However, since a failure of these new circuit cards could result in shutting down the reactor, extra measures to ensure compatibility, functionality, and initial reliability must be taken. This subcommittee is working to verify circuit card performance using full-scale rod control training cabinets and equipment.

Rod Control Reliability Committee
The purpose of the RCRC is to:

  • Improve the long-term reliability of rod control systems by exchanging technical information, operating experience, and best maintenance practices among its members
  • Collaborate to resolve technical issues, provide resources to aid in problem-solving situations, and provide the operation and maintenance perspective for component/system upgrades or design modifications

This committee addresses both Westinghouse- and Combustion Engineering- (CE-) designed systems. Power plant rod control specialists and engineers who are responsible for the maintenance, operation, and upgrading of Westinghouse and CE rod control systems are encouraged to participate.

A few of the topics currently planned for the next RCRC meeting are:

  • Project and equipment performance update from the Ringhals plant, which is installing the new Westinghouse-designed digital logic cabinet and solid state power cabinets
  • A detailed review of the EPRI Full-Length Rod Control System - Life Cycle Management Planning Sourcebook (1011881)
  • Rod control outage maintenance lessons learned at the Robinson Plant
  • Results of a logic cabinet card strategy study completed by Duke for Catawba
  • Lessons learned from the phase card replacement project performed by Prairie Island
  • Subcommittee updates for the beta testing of the new Westinghouse rod drive circuit boards and double gripper modifications
  • CE rod control design specific topics and breakout
  • Numerous other plant rod control operating experience events

The next RCRC meeting will be held at EPRI Charlotte the week of June 14, 2010. A meeting announcement will be issued later this month so attendee registration can begin.

For more information about the RCRC, contact Lee Rogers, 772.288.4369, lrogers@epri.com; RCRC chair, Richard Schreiner, 757.365.2552, richard.c.schreiner@dom.com; or RCRC vice-chair, Joe Constant, 803.701.5132, joe.constant@duke-energy.com.

2010 Transformer and Switchyard Users Group Meeting

EPRI established the Transformer and Switchyard Users Group (TSUG) to help nuclear power plant personnel improve their knowledge related to maintaining and improving the reliability of transformers and switchyard equipment. The Maintenance Rule (10CFR50.65) and industry deregulation have caused nuclear power plant personnel to be responsible for switchyard equipment such as power transformers and high-voltage circuit breakers. The requirement of addressing equipment that “could cause” a plant trip and the unbundling of generators and transmission companies placed new responsibilities on generator and transmission operators.

Recently, the North American Electricity Reliability Corporation (NERC) placed NUC 001-2, which requires “written Interface Agreements” between generators and transmission companies. This standard requires that generator operators and associated transmission entities have in place mutually agreed-upon requirements and have a document in place that addresses how these requirements will be implemented.

According to INPO data, from 2005–2008, there were 78 (42% transformer) consequential nuclear plant events involving transformer/switchyard/grid.

With these changes taking place in the industry, the Transformer and Switchyard Users Group is organized to address industry issues in this area. The current organization of the users group consists of three working groups:

  • Group chair – Kirk Robbins, Exelon
  • Group co-chair – Camilo Rodriguez, First Energy
  • Group secretary – Thomas Mannings, FPL, Seabrook
  • Working groups
    – Power Transformers – Tim Smith, Duke Energy*
    – Switchyard Equipment – Jeff McClelland, American Electric Power
    – Grid Reliability – Bill Duge, First Energy
    * New chair will be selected
 
Figure courtesy of First Energy

The activities being pursued by each working group are provided here:

Power Transformer Working Group

  • Technical resource for reviewing the EPRI “Copper Book”
  • Identification and mitigation of single-point vulnerabilities in the transformer control
  • Life cycle management and critical component spare readiness plan
  • Specific acceptance criteria for transformer performance monitoring, preventive maintenance (PM), and testing
  • Vendor oversight of new and refurbished transformers
  • Oversight of corrective maintenance (CM) and PM tasks to mitigate vulnerability to operational events
  • New Significant Operating Experience Report (SOER)

Switchyard Equipment Working Group

  • High-voltage breaker (for example, SF6 breakers)
  • Digital relays
  • Switchyard walkdown checklist

Grid Reliability Working Group

  • NUC-001 implementation
  • NERC/Regional Reliability Organizations (RRO) lessons learned
  • NERC compliance guide

The 2010 Transformer and Switchyard Users Group Meeting will build on the equipment-type workshops that have been provided at previous meetings. In 2009, a workshop and tour was held at the ABB Alamo facility. The workshop covered high-voltage bushing design and construction.

The 2010 meeting is planned for late July. The location and date for the meeting are currently being negotiated. A workshop on high-voltage circuit breakers is being considered with an associated tour of a circuit breaker factory.

For more information, contact Wayne Johnson, 704.595.2551, wejohnson@epri.com.

HRCUG Rolls Out New Collaborative Website and Announces Annual Summer Meeting

The Hoisting, Rigging, and Crane Users Group (HRCUG) has been active in addressing a variety of issues dealing with cranes, rigging, and materials handling issues. In the fall of 2009, the new HRCUG collaborative website was officially rolled out to users group members. Easily accessible from EPRI.com, the HRCUG collaborative web site provides a number of services to its members. In addition to announcing upcoming users group activities, there is also a discussion board where members can post questions and replies, a calendar where relevant events and activities can be posted, and a “resource shelf” where members can upload documents and other files to share with the group members.

Every summer, the HRCUG holds its annual meeting. Last year’s meeting in Knoxville, Tennessee, was an outstanding success, hosting a wide array of presenters; including members, industry vendors, and the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). The 2010 annual meeting will be held in Shreveport, Louisiana, at the Holiday Inn, Downtown, June 22–24. Presentations are planned on issues such as crane obsolescence, materials handling, upcoming regulations, crane inspection issues, and INPO operating experiences. Additionally, we will offer a workshop on crane operations provided by Whiting Services and a workshop and factory tour on rigging hardware and devices provided by Crosby Manufacturing.

Beginning in 2010, the management of the HRCUG changed hands. Sharon Parker, who has done an outstanding job of overseeing the user group for the past six years, retired at the end of 2009. She will be greatly missed, as her contributions to the industry have been significant. EPRI Senior Project Manager Merrill Quintrell has now taken over the management and oversight of the HRCUG. Please feel free to contact him at 704.595.2530, mquintrell@epri.com.

Work Planning Managers/Supervisors Effecting Improvement in Work Package Quality

Southern California Edison (SCE) San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) hosted the Work Planning Users Group (WPUG) winter meeting January 26–28, 2010. The meeting was attended by 50 planning professionals.

A portion of the meeting was reserved for each attendee to express their site’s work planning challenges and accomplishments. This forum allowed for the identification of common issues for the group to focus on, as well as good practices that can be shared among utilities.


Work Planning Managers and Supervisors Share Issues and Strengths

The focus of the WPUG is to:

  • Develop and/or share proven industry methods and processes regarding work package preparation, execution, and feedback.
  • Provide consistent strategic and tactical standards by capturing industry best practices and operating experience and by further defining and improving the process for work package preparation, execution, and feedback at existing and new generation plants.
  • Improve maintenance effectiveness and equipment reliability by continuously improving the work planning departmental performance.

EPRI products developed by members of the WPUG include:

  • Maintenance Work Package Planning Guidance (1011903)
  • Maintenance Work Package Training (and Certification) – Student Handbook (1014533)
  • Work Planning Assessment Guidelines (1015253)
  • Guidelines for Addressing Contingency Spare Parts (1013472)
  • EPRI WPUG Collaboration Site – Work Package Nuclear Center

Work Package Quality – Top Priority

One of the biggest challenges to work package quality is the alignment of craft training and expectations to work package content. This alignment is difficult to attain even in normal circumstances, but with today’s changing work force and high ratio of first-time supplemental workers, there seems to be pressure to include more worker knowledge and expectations in the standard work package. This situation creates what has been called work package “bloat” or “swell.”

A WPUG subcommittee is working to clearly define work package bloat/swell and develop a strategy to address it. Once the subcommittee develops a draft strategy, it will be distributed to the entire WPUG for review and comment. The draft strategy is expected to be distributed to WPUG members for review and comment by early April 2010.

The next WPUG meeting is planned for July 2010. After meeting dates and location have been confirmed, a meeting notice will be sent out to WPUG members and EPRI site contacts.

If you would like to learn more about the WPUG and its activities, contact Lee Rogers, 704.595.2751, lroger@epri.com; WPUG chair John Hodgkinson (SONGS), John.Hodgkinson@sce.com; or WPUG vice-chair Steve Johnson (INL), StephenC.Johnson@inl.gov.

Japanese Utilities Pursue Condition-Based Maintenance

As a result of regulatory changes, Japanese nuclear utilities are collectively moving toward condition-based maintenance programs. To assist in this effort, EPRI has sponsored the Japanese Reliability-Centered Maintenance–Condition-Based Maintenance (RCM–CBM) Users Group, which is similar to the U.S.-based Condition-Based Maintenance Users Group. Japanese utility personnel spend a significant amount of their meetings reviewing plant case histories to expand their knowledge base and highlight lessons learned. Their meetings contain breakout sessions on vibration analysis, oil analysis, and infrared thermography.

In 2009, the group’s chair, Mr. Hiroshi Yamashita (Tokyo Electric Power Company) outlined several issues faced by Japanese nuclear utilities with respect to the implementation of condition-based maintenance (CBM). Some of these issues included:

  • The lack of case histories for each technology. Relatively speaking, since the Japanese have only recently implemented CBM, the number of data anomalies and case histories are limited.
  • Establishment of threshold values and actionable processes when threshold values are reached. These processes are being defined, but further work is necessary.
  • The process to move from time-based maintenance to condition-based maintenance is still being considered and addressed.
  • Management awareness and sponsorship of CBM programs is a challenge. This challenge seems universal and is certainly shared by CBM programs in the United States and most likely around the world.
  • Establishment of qualification and training programs. The Japanese have made considerable progress in qualifying personnel. Every year, the number of trained staff members continues to increase.

Other issues mentioned include expanding the scope of components subject to CBM, the use of process data for CBM, organization of CBM teams, program standardization, and standardization of an as-found data process.

The group has had considerable success on a number of fronts, including the development of a database (survey) of programs and practices, in which the information is updated annually. The group has initiated supplemental working group meetings centered around the three primary CBM technologies: infrared thermography, vibration, and oil analysis. In addition, other technologies are being embraced through training, including diesel engine analysis. (Refer to Diesel Engine Analysis Guide (TR-107135).) Group members believe that the RCM–CBM group has contributed to the acceleration and implementation of CBM at all nuclear sites in Japan.

The RCM–CBM group meets twice each year—in May and October. Group oversight is provided by a four-person committee made up of rotating members of the Japanese nuclear utilities.

Plant personnel from U.S. and international utilities attend these meetings to provide an international exchange forum and share their programs, experience, methods, and case histories with the Japanese. In conjunction with these meetings, benchmarking trips to Japanese plant sites are attended by predictive maintenance (PdM) program and technology experts from the United States. Utility personnel interested in sharing successful programs or unique case studies should contact Jim Sharkey.

Utilities that have supported the Japanese in their efforts include Exelon’s corporate office and Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant, Pacific Gas and Electric’s Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, Southern California Edison’s corporate office and San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, and Duke Power’s Catawba Nuclear Plant. Future support is also planned from Arizona Public Service’s Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station and Ontario Power Generation.

For information or questions regarding this group and these EPRI initiatives, contact Jim Sharkey, 704.595.2557, jsharkey@epri.com.

Japanese Valve Users Group Update

Mark your calendars to attend the second annual Japanese Valve Users Group conference in October 2010. The exact date and location will be provided at a later date. The feedback collected from last year’s meeting will be used in compiling the agenda for 2010. Look for continued discussion on existing valve programs and practices along with an in-depth look at valve diagnostics.

What are the benefits of attending such a meeting? Here is some of the feedback collected from last year’s participants:

  • Good information exchange, such as other utilities’ valve maintenance approaches and issues.
  • Great source of networking among the various sites and organizations (engineering, maintenance, I&C).
  • It was beneficial to understand U.S. valve practices, progress, and approaches.
  • There was a good balance in the discussion of mechanical valves, instrumentation valves, and electromagnetic valves.
  • We were able to learn about problems, concerns, and approaches taken by other utilities and plants with similar conditions, directly from the source.
  • It was extremely beneficial to see the difficulties faced by maintenance in case histories across the utilities.

Japanese utilities are invited and encouraged to participate in this conference.

For more information, contact Nick Camilli. 704.595.2094, ncamilli@epri.com.

2010 NMAC Meetings

Users Groups
Meeting Date Location Contact Phone
MOV-PPM Users Group January 12, 2010 San Antonio, TX John Hosler 704.595.2720
Feedwater System Reliability Users Group January 12–13, 2010 Atlanta, GA Mike Pugh 919.812.5162
Pressure Relief Device Interest Group January 18–20, 2010 Orlando, FL Bob O’Neil 508.539.3301
Work Planning Users Group January 26–28, 2010 San Clemente, CA Lee Rogers 772-288-4369
Large Electric Motor Users Group February 2–4, 2010 Houston, TX Wayne Johnson 704.595.2551
Maintenance Rule Users Group/WS February 3–4, 2010 New Orleans, LA Marty Bridges 704.595.2672
Japanese RCM CBM User Group May 11–12, 2010 Fokuoka, Japan Jim Sharkey 704.595.2557
Rod Control System Users Group June 14–15, 2010 Charlotte, NC Lee Rogers 772.288.4369
Circuit Breaker Users Group June 14–18, 2010 Columbia, SC Jim Sharkey 704.595.2557
Hoisting, Rigging, & Crane Users Group June 23–24, 2010 Shreveport, LA Merrill Quintrell 704.595.2530
Predictive Maintenance Users Group July 12–16, 2010 Orlando, FL Tom Turek 484.631.5863
Infrared Thermography Users Group July 12–16, 2010 Orlando, FL Gary Noce 610.429.9834 (x15)
Terry Turbine Users Group July 13–15, 2010 Denver, CO Dave Dobbins 704.595.2560
Work Planning Users Group July 2010 TBD Lee Rogers 772.288.4369
Transformer & Switchyard Users Group July 2010 TBD Wayne Johnson 704.595.2551
Maintenance Rule Users Group August 3–4, 2010 Chicago, IL Marty Bridges 704.595.2672
Preventive Maintenance Basis Database Users Group August 10, 2010 Charlotte, NC Jim McKee 256.437.9296
Pump Users Group/WS August 16–20, 2010 Pittsburgh, PA Dave Dobbins 704.595.2560
Large Electric Motor Users Group August 16–20, 2010 Pittsburgh, PA Wayne Johnson 704.595.2551
Japanese RCM CBM User Group October 20–22, 2010 Tokyo, Japan Jim Sharkey 704.595.2557
Japanese Valve Users Group October 2010 TBD Nick Camilli
Bob O’Neil
704.595.2594
508.539.3301
Workshops
Meeting Date Location Contact Phone
Large Electric Motor Workshop February 1, 2010 Houston, TX Wayne Johnson 704.595.2551
Maintenance Rule Workshop February 2, 2010 New Orleans, LA Marty Bridges 704.5952672
Clearance & Tagging/Temporary Grounding Practices Workshop June 8–10, 2010 Ontario, Canada David Ziebell 404.316.9823
Rod Control Workshop June 15–17, 2010 Charlotte, NC Lee Rogers 772.288.4369
Rigging Hardware Usage Workshop June 22, 2010 Shreveport, LA Merrill Quintrell 704.595.2530
Lubrication and Bearing Workshop July 13–15, 2010 Orlando, FL Nick Camilli 704.595.2594
MOV-PPM Training July 2010 Charlotte, NC John Hosler 704.595.2720
Transformer & Switchyard Workshop July 2010 TBD Wayne Johnson 704.595.2551
Pump Workshop / UG August 2010 Pittsburgh, PA Dave Dobbins 704.595.2560
Large Electric Motor Workshop /UG August 2010 Pittsburgh, PA Wayne Johnson 704.595.2551
Other Meetings Available
Meeting Date Location Contact Phone
Intensive Terry Turbine Training May 17–20, 2010 Charlotte, NC Dave Dobbins 704.595.2560
European Rotating Equipment Issues Meeting (PUG & EMUG) TBD TBD Dave Dobbins
Wayne Johnson
704.595.2560
704.595.2551
Vibration Technology Forum July 2010 Orlando, FL Tom Turek 484.631.5863
Steering Committee Meetings
Meeting Date Location Contact Phone
NMAC Integration Committee Meeting February 9–10, 2010 Concord, NC Marty Bridges 704.595.2672
NMAC Integration Committee Meeting September 14–15, 2010 Concord, NC Marty Bridges 704.595.2672
NMAC Japanese Technical Advisory Committee Meeting October 2010 TBD Marty Bridges 704.595.2672
NMAC European Technical Advisory Committee Meeting TBD TBD Dave Dobbins 704.595.2560

NMAC Members and Personnel

NMAC Domestic Membership

  • AmerenUE
  • American Electric Power
  • Arizona Public Service
  • Constellation
  • Detroit Edison
  • Dominion Energy
  • Duke Energy
  • Energy Northwest
  • Entergy
  • Exelon
  • First Energy
  • Florida Power & Light
  • INL (NA)
  • Knolls Atomic Power Labs (KAPL)
  • Luminant
  • Nebraska Public Power
  • NNSA Oak Ridge (ORNL)
  • Omaha Public Power
  • Pacific Gas & Electric
  • Progress Energy
  • Public Service Electric & Gas
  • South Carolina E&G
  • South Texas Operating Co.
  • Southern California Edison
  • Southern Nuclear Operating Co.
  • Tennessee Valley Authority
  • Wolf Creek
  • Xcel Energy Services

NMAC International Membership

  • Almaraz (Spain)
  • Asco (Spain))
  • British Energy (UK)
  • Bruce Power (Canada)
  • Cernavoda (Romania)
  • CFE (Mexico)
  • Chubu (Japan)
  • Chugoku (Japan)
  • Cofrentes (Spain)
  • Daya Bay (China))
  • Electrabel (Belgium)
  • Electricité de France
  • Electronuclear (Brazil)
  • Eskom (South Africa)
  • Hokkaido (Japan)
  • Hokuriku (Japan)
  • Hydro Quebec (Canada)
  • JAPCO (Japan)
  • Kansai (Japan)
  • KHNP (Korea)
  • KRSKO (Slovenia)
  • Kyushu (Japan)a
  • Leibstadt (Switzerland)
  • New Brunswick (Canada)
  • Ontario Power (Canada)
  • Santa Maria De Garona (Spain)
  • Shikoku (Japan)
  • Slovenske Electrarne (Slovakia)
  • Taiwan Power (Taiwan)
  • TEPCO (Japan)
  • Tohoku (Japan)
  • Trillo (Spain)
  • Vandellos (Spain)

NMAC Personnel

Name Title Phone E-Mail Coverage Area
Marty Bridges NMAC Program Manager 704.595.2672 mbridges@epri.com Maintenance, engineering, operations
Gary Boles Consulting Employee 423.870.5979 gboles@epri.com Mechanical components, component engineering, maintenance processes, work planning
Nicholas Camilli Project Engineer 704.595.2594 ncamilli@epri.com Lubrication, mechanical support, valves and bolting, power uprates
Lee Catalfomo Sr. Project Manager 813.996.3357 lcatalfo@epri.com Equipment reliability, maintenance process improvement, operations support
Dave Dobbins Project Manager 704.595.2560 ddobbins@epri.com Pumps, Terry Turbines
Alan Grunsky NSTI Program Manager 704.595.2556 agrunsky@epri.com Nuclear Steam Turbine Initiative
Wayne Johnson Project Manager 704.595.2551 wejohnson@epri.com Electrical components, electrical systems, motors
Jim McKee Project Manager 256.437.9296 jmckee@epri.com Electrical/I&C, PdM, maintenance program development and optimization, system engineering
Bob O’Neill Consulting Employee 508.539.3301 roneill@epri.com MOVs, SOVs, PRVs, AOVs
Alessandra Ozorio Technical Assistant 704.595.2620 aozorio@epri.com Technical coordination, international interface, staff and member support
Merrill Quintrell Sr. Project Manager 704.595.2530 mquintrell@epri.com Hoists, rigging, and cranes
Linda Parrish Meeting Coordinator 704.595.2561 lparrish@epri.com Meetings/administration
Mike Pugh Consulting Employee 919.812.5162 mpugh@epri.com Condensers, circulating water systems, mechanical components, lubrication
Lee Rogers Project Manager 704.595.2751 lrogers@epri.com Maintenance processes, work planning, foreign material exclusion, power uprates
Deborah Rouse Administrative Assistant 704.595.2520 drouse@epri.com Program administration
Jim Sharkey Project Manager 704.595.2557 jsharkey@epri.com Circuit breakers, main generators, emergency diesel generators
Tom Turek Sr. Project Manager 484.631.5863 tturek@epri.com CBM with a focus on rotating equipment
David Ziebell Project Manager 404.316.9823 dziebell@epri.com O&M processes and practices, clearance and tagging, change management
NMAC HOTLINE

Contact the NMAC hotline if you need any further assistance.

Email address: nmachotline@epri.com
Toll free number: 800.356.7448 – option 2

Your request will be responded to in one to two business days.