Efforts by the nuclear industry to evaluate check valve failures

Recent studies identified approximately 4000 check valve failures that occurred from 1984-1991. Of these, approximately 1600 were determined to be significant enough to require further analysis. This is to be compared with the existing check valve population of nearly 21,000 valves. The strategy proposed in this paper is to establish a refined, centralized check valve failure/reliability database based in part on existing Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) Nuclear Plant Reliability Data System (NPRDS) data. Ideally the database would be maintained in a central location, augmented with specific component information, overall reliability information, and updated at least biannually. The data would be available to sort and search as desired. The conceptual plan is provided and possible uses of the database are given.