Operating Experience Report (OPEX)

For
TRICENTRIC Valves
Containment Purge & Vent Systems

Rev.
0

Originator:

Title:

Gregory Green

Nuclear Applications
Engineer

Signature:

Date:
12/6/2012

OPEX INDEX
Index........................................................................................................................................... 2
Heritage...................................................................................................................................... 3
Equipment Description ............................................................................................................. 3
Key Features and Benefits ....................................................................................................... 5
References for Purge & Vent Containment Isolation Valves................................................. 6
Partial Test List ......................................................................................................................... 6
Product Updates ....................................................................................................................... 6
General Design Description - Valve Assembly....................................................................... 8
Component Assembly Outline Drawings ................................................................................ 9
Installation List........................................................................................................................ 11

Weir Valves & Controls USA Inc.

Phone: +1 978 744 5690

Email: sales@weirvalveusa.com

Heritage:
The TRICENTRIC Butterfly valve has a long
history within the U.S. Nuclear market. Since
the early 1960s, Clow Engineered Products sold
quarter turn isolation valves to the
petrochemical, refining, steel and nuclear
industries. Their specialty application was for
severe service water. The triple offset valve was
recognized as well designed, of high quality and
extremely dependable.
In 1975, Clow secured an N & NPT stamp,
and began an extensive engineering and testing
program to upgrade the product while driving
down costs. By 1982, the company was poised
to pursue the Nuclear Power Industry as its main
objective.
Clow was sold to C&S Valve Company, in 1985,
in a management buyout. Many long term
employees stayed and C&S increased its
nuclear installation base while offering an
unheard of five (5) year warranty. Atwood &
Morrill Company, a long time valve supplier with
lineage dating back to the Nautilus nuclear
submarine, acquired C&S in 1995 through an
asset purchase. Key engineering,
manufacturing and sales employees were again
retained and relocated to its Salem, MA factory.

force between seat and seal and without any

sliding, rubbing or interference. This accounts
for the high cycle life of these valves.
The sealing capability of the TRICENTRIC
valve is achieved by an applied torque to the
valve stem. This torque is translated into a
compressive force between the disc seal and
the valve seat. Thus, the valve leakage is
inversely proportional to the input torque. In
addition, the geometry of the valve is such, that
the differential pressure across the closed disc
assists closure of the disc. At a specific
differential pressure, the differential pressure
alone (without the aid of the actuator) will
provide the sealing capability of the valve.
These torque seated valves have been installed
in virtually every nuclear power plant in the USA
and throughout the world. They have been
successfully applied for temperature ranges of
cryogenic to 1600F and pressures from vacuum
to 1400 psi.

The TRICENTRIC name flourished with A&M

until 2003 when the Weir Group, parent
company of Atwood & Morrill, branded all its
valve companies under a new Division called
Weir Valves & Controls where this industry
leading brand remains today.

Equipment Description:
Valves supplied for Containment Purge & Vent
Valve Systems are TRICENTRIC valves.
TRICENTRIC valves are triple offset metal
seated butterfly valves. The design is based on
a conical sealing surface in such, that during
disc rotation in the open and closed cycles, the
valve disc and the metal seal do not come in
contact with the valve seat except at the point of
full closure. When the disc and the seal are in
the full closed position, the sealing capability of
the valve is achieved only by a compression

Weir Valves & Controls USA Inc.

Phone: +1 978 744 5690

Email: sales@weirvalveusa.com

By having a conical seat profile with exact

matching seal profile and by offsetting the
rotational pivoting point of the disc in three (3)
different directions, a triple offset valve is born.
Shaft Offset #1: Offset from the vertical sealing
plane. Provides a pivot location for noninterference disc rotation and non-interrupted
sealing surface (See Figure 1)
Shaft Offset #2: Shaft centerline is offset from
the horizontal seal axis. Provides pivot location
for camming action of the disc and creates
pressure area torque which helps energize the
seal by increasing the contact force between
seat and seal. (See Figure 1)
Shaft Offset #3: Centerline axis of the seal
surface is offset from the cone axis centerline.
This is crucial for providing proper disc travel
path to the seat for contact at one point in the
fully closed position. Also provides rotational
operation without any seat to seal interference.
(See Figure 1)

Figure 2 - Closed Position Seating Showing

Disc Seal Stack with Laminations

The disc rotation of this valve is achieved by an

external mechanical torque producing device.
This device (actuator) can be either a:
mechanical gear
electric motor
pneumatic operated
Depending upon the type of actuation required,
the valve assembly can be supplied to fail as is,
fail closed or fail open.
As mentioned above, the sealing capability of
this valve is achieved by a compressive force
between the disc seal and the valve seat which
requires the valve to be torque seated and not
position seated. When the output torque of the
actuating device causes the disc to rotate to the
fully closed position, it is the valve seat that
limits further disc rotation and not external or
actuator adjustment stops. This characteristic of
the valve assures that it will always provide a
positive shutoff independent of any degradation
of any thermal gradients. (See Figure 2 above)
Manufacturing requires standard machining
practices, best achieved with CNS machining.
Critical components such as tolerances and
surface finishes need to be maintained at the
mating parts to assure valve longevity and
problem free performance.

Weir Valves & Controls USA Inc.

Phone: +1 978 744 5690

Email: sales@weirvalveusa.com

TRICENTRIC valves have been used in Purge

& Vent applications in both BWR and PWR
units. During this 25 year period, this valve
design has proven to be the best engineered
valve for this demanding application.
As a testament to the TRICENTRIC valve, it is
the only design used in every post-TMI U.S.
OEM Purge & Vent valve replacement project.
Just as noteworthy, the TRICENTRIC valve has
never been replaced and offers industry leading
LLRT leakage performance. There are other
triple-offset valve designs in this market;
however, no other triple-offset valve has the
installation experience of the TRICENTRIC in
Containment Isolation applications and no other
manufacturer has the required knowledge &
testing necessary for a successful change out in
this extremely demanding application.
Comprehensive description of the assembly,
disassembly, maintenance and operation of
these valves may be found in the Installation,
Operation and Maintenance Service Manual
provided with these valves. The maintenance
history for a triple offset valve is below average.
Its robust design, with metal-to-metal seats and
minimal soft goods, makes for easy
maintenance compared to resilient seated
butterfly valves which require constant soft seat
maintenance and experience above average
leakage issues. (See Figure 3)

Key Features and Benefits of

TRICENTRIC Triple Offset Butterfly
Valves:

Over 1500 valves installed at nuclear

plants including containment isolation
and 150 containment purge/vent
applications.

TRICENTRIC manufacturing always

maintained in the United States

All Approved Vendors located in North

America (U.S. & Canada)

Non Interference Seal = No Galling or

Seat/Seal Wear.

Non-Jamming Seating = No Sticking.

No Resilient Seal = No Tearing, No

Wash-Away, No Temp/Rad Effects.

Shaft Does Not Penetrate Through

Seat/Seal = Less Susceptible to Leaks.

Seal is Assisted By Pressure = Better

Seating Under Higher Pressure.

Recently chosen by Westinghouse for

their AP1000 Containment Isolation and
Purge and Vent valve applications

Seal does not experience set like soft

seated designs.

Torque Seated with Metal-to-Metal Seal

= No EQ concerns, Longer Life.

Torque seated not, position seated = No

need to find sweet spot for seal.

Self-Adjusting Seal = Will Not Stick Due

to Temperature Fluctuations.

Larger Shaft Diameter with More Bearing

Wear Surface = Longer Life.

Figure 3 Disc Disassembly

Weir Valves & Controls USA Inc.

Phone: +1 978 744 5690

Email: sales@weirvalveusa.com

Reference List
TRICENTRIC Purge & Vent Valves:
PSEG Hope Creek
Valves: 6, 24 & 26 150 TRICENTRIC
Contact:
Craig Johnson-Design Engineer
Phone: (856) 339-1859
Email: craig.johnson@pseg.com
Energy Northwest Columbia Generating
Station
Valves:
24 & 30 150 TRICENTRIC
Contact:
Joe Stacks Appendix J Coord.
Phone: (509) 377-4324
Email:
Entergy Northeast Pilgrim Station
Valves: 8 150 TRICENTRIC
Contacts:
David Peyvan AOV Program
Engineer
Phone: (508) 830-7538
Email: dpeyvan@entergy.com
AEP DC Cook
Valves: 14 & 24 150 TRICENTRIC
Contacts:
Danielle Satkoski-AOV Prog. Mgr
Phone: (269) 465-5901 ext. 1456
Email: dmsatkoski@aep.com

1972-Colorado State University

Determine Hydraulic Characteristics
1981-Vought Corp.
Operational Test for Nuclear Purge Systems
(Oyster Creek)
1982-Clow Job Number 80-9490-01.02 and 03
Purge & Vent Operability Qualification Analysis,
NRC Branch Tech, CSB 6-4, Guidelines for
Demonstration of Operability of Purge and Vent
Valves (AEP/DC Cook)
1983-Colorado State University
Hydraulic Test for Cavitation & Torque
1983-Clow Job Number 82-2739-01(N)
Purge & Vent Operational Qualification Analysis
(Bechtel for Pilgrim NPP)
1994 Utah State University
Flow & Torque Tests (Duke Power)
2004-Alden Labs
Flow Test of Qty (4) 10 BFV-Seat Leakage &
Cv
2010-Wyle Lab
QME-1 Testing for Westinghouse AP-1000

Product Updates:
Clow Engineered Products began a rigorous
testing program in the late 1970s which was
continued by C&S Valve. In 2010, Weir Valves
& Controls completed QME-1 testing of the
TRICENTRIC to meet stringent Westinghouse
AP1000 requirements. The TRICENTRIC valve
has been fully flow tested (under choked flow
conditions simulating the accident closure
scenario) and endured the complete Purge &
Vent Valve Operability Qualification Analysis, as
required by NRC Branch Technical Position,
CSB 6-4 & Guidelines for Demonstration of
Operability of Purge and Vent Valves, NRC
letter dated 9/79. Extensive testing programs
have been undertaken over the years and a
partial list is shown below.

Weir Valves & Controls USA Inc.

Partial Test List:

Phone: +1 978 744 5690

(*Please consult factory for copies of any reports listed herein)

Over 30 years of testing and unsurpassed

metal-to-metal sealing capability is the main
reason that many nuclear plants changed to the
TRICENTRIC valve for Purge & Vent
applications. Throughout the late 70s and early
80s, plants like Pilgrim, Limerick, Hope Creek,
Salem, Columbia and ANO continued to fail
LLRTs with the originally installed soft seated
butterfly valves. The metal seals in
TRICENTRIC valves do not degrade due to
wear, radiation or temperature. They do not
take a position set on the seal area, as the seal
does not contact the seating area in the open
position. Additionally, the metallic seats of the
TRICENTRIC valve are under relatively low
stress when seated, thus neither of the
components set in the closed position.

Email: sales@weirvalveusa.com

After the above mentioned plants changed to

TRICENTRIC Triple-Offset Valves, many have
enjoyed extending LLRT testing requirements
without experiencing failures. Also, several
plants withdrew from Containment Atmosphere
Owners Groups due to the superb leak rate test
results experienced on a repeated basis.

Sonic velocity choked flow characteristics

associated with a DBE may result in tearing
of a resilient seat during the final degrees of
valve stroke. This would render the valve
incapable of performing its intended safety
function of preventing effluent contamination
to the surrounding environment.

In review, TRICENTRIC Triple Offset Butterfly

Valves have several desirable operating
characteristics over conventional butterfly
designs, which make them better performers in
Containment Purge and Vent applications:

The TRICENTRIC Metal-to-Metal torque

seated design is fully capable of meeting
extremely low leakage values (even zero
leakage) under containment testing
conditions. This has been proven in 3rd party
testing, in our shop and in the field.
TRICENTRIC valves have undergone
50,000+ cycle stroke testing without any loss
of performance in the sealing mechanism.

TRICENTRIC Valves use a non-elastomeric

seal to maintain tight seat leakage
requirements. This is a major advantage
over butterfly valves with resilient seats, as
the elastomers tend to break down in the
high temperature and radiation environment
found inside containment. This leads to
increased leakage on LLRT testing and
requires maintenance to replace the resilient
seal. Resilient seals are not compatible with
boric acid chemical spray used during
emergency shutdown containment
operations which could result in seat
degradation resulting in potential seat
leakage.

Figure 5 TRICENTRIC with Pneumatic Actuator

Age hardening is another potential problem

with resilient seals. These valves may sit in
the open or closed position for extended
periods of time. The resilient seal, which
maintains a seal by means of surface
interference, will conform to any area of
interference. As the rubber age hardens, the
soft seat maintains the conformed shape.
When the valve is stroked and subsequent
seat leakage testing is performed, the
resilient seal will often have an area that is
unable to conform to the adjacent seating
surface.

Weir Valves & Controls USA Inc.

Phone: +1 978 744 5690

Email: sales@weirvalveusa.com

General Design Description Valve Assemblies

Air Operated Valves
Valve Tag Number TBD
Valve Overview:

12 Class 150 TRICENTRIC Valve supplied in Carbon Steel (SA516 Gr. 70) construction.

Designed to ASME B16.34 2009 Edition and meeting Weirs Quality Assurance Manual Rev.6, dated
23 June 2011 for ASME Sec III Div. 1, Class 1, 2 and 3. 10CFR50 Appx B and 10CFR21
requirements apply

QME-1 Qualified Triple Offset metal seated butterfly valve

Dimensions, weight and Cv values per Weir TRICENTRIC reference valve drawing.

Metal on metal seating, with non-jamming, non-interference seal.

Seismic mounting bracket and adapter for connection to Pneumatic Scotch Yoke actuator.

Actuator Overview:

Actuator: QME-1 Qualified Scotch Yoke Pneumatic Spring Return sized to operate with 100 psig air
supply with Fail Closed (FC) requirement

Closure requirement: 100 psig differential

Includes Manual override feature (Hydraulic, Gear w/ reach rod feature)

Accessory Overview:

Solenoid Valve Electrical component used to control the valve. Design includes Qty (2), One (1)
being the primary and the latter being a back-up (for redundancy) and having Environmental/Seismic
Qualification for the intended service

Limit Switches Qty (2) Proximity Switches to indicate Full Open and Full Closed valve position,
having Environmental/Seismic Qualification for the intended service

Optional Teledyne Smart Stem (to support torque measurements for routine testing)

Figure 6 BWR Mark I Cutaway showing TRICENTRIC Valves (in blue): Dry Well & Wet Well

Weir Valves & Controls USA Inc.

Phone: +1 978 744 5690

Email: sales@weirvalveusa.com

Component Bare Stem Outline Drawings with Cross Sectional View

of Drawing with Bill of Materials
Figure 7

Component Assembly Drawings with Sectional View

of Drawing with Bill of Materials

Figure 8