A Study on the Leakage Evaluation for Power Plant Valve Using Infrared Thermography Method

This study was conducted to estimate the feasibility using thermal image measurement that is applicable to internal leak diagnosis for the power plant valve. Abnormal heating of valve surface associated with high temperature steam f10w toward valve outlet side in the condition of low temperature is a primary indicator of leakage problems in high temperature and pressure valves. Thermal imaging enables to see the invisible thermal radiation that may portend impending damage before their condition becomes critical. When steam flow in valve outlet side in the condition of low temperature is converted into heat transmitted through the valve body due to the internal leakage in valve. The existence of abnormally increasable leakage rate in the valve will result in abnormally high levels of heat to be generated that can be quickly identified with a thermal image avoiding energy loss or damage of valve component. From the experimental results, it was suggested that the thermal image measurement could be an effective way to precisely diagnose and evaluate internal leak situation of valve.