Nuclear Pump Bearing Testing

Nuclear power plants depend on electric motor-driven pumps to circulate coolant through a closed system of pipes to help dissipate excess heat. These machines, called reactor coolant pumps, RCPs, must be monitored continuously to ensure dependable operation. RTDs located on the pump’s bearings measure temperature and send the signal to an automatic alarm and control system that quickly alerts operators of any change in status. RCP bearings are likely suspects for failures, which could delay power production and cause the plant to lose significant revenues. One failure mode is a bearing seal that leaks lubricant and can become a fire hazard. Because of their importance, RCP bearings are a high priority component to watch, and usually, multiple sensors serve each bearing to provide a certain amount of redundancy.

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