Automatic Valve Corp (AVCO) offers BWR’s alternatives in resolving their SSPV issues in an effective and cost efficient manner.  Since 1996, AVCO has been supplying BWR’s SSPV’s that have met all performance expectations. They have reduced costs significantly by eliminating an entire valve out of the OEM setup and offer life of plant durability without the need for any maintenance.

 

Summarizing, AVCO offers the following advantages in experience, design attributes, and commercial considerations:   AVCO Experience: More than 7,000+ AVCO SSPV's are now installed throughout the world, since 1996.

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AVCO Design Attributes:

• AVCO solenoid valves are designed to be simple to eliminate as many potential failure modes as possible.  The valve employs a simple poppet to cause the valve function.  Diaphragms are expressly avoided to eliminate problems of hardening, tearing or sticking.
• Recognizing that contaminants are a fact of life, AVCO solenoid valves employ large grooves cut into the pilot poppets to flush out hardened lubricants, pipe tape, metal shavings, etc. during the exhaust cycle.  This eliminates under-seat-leaking problems.
• AVCO SSPV’s are fully IEEE and accident qualified.  Assuming normal HCU ambient temperatures, AVCO SSPV’s are qualified for 40 years for all components.  The qualified life is the real life; there are no maintenance requirements or recommendations for elastomer change-out at any period during the qualified life of the valve.  Even assuming that a 15-year life can be obtained from a diaphragm change-out on the current valves, there would be yet one more change-out cycle required if plant life extension is implemented.  This would not be an issue with the AVCO valve.
• A single AVCO SSPV replaces two ‘dual’ OEM valves; one ‘T’ OEM valves, eliminating half of the failure potential.  Experience has shown that the installation of an AVCO SSPV takes less time than the change-out of the diaphragms alone in the OEM valves.  In the event that a change-out is necessary, a single valve reduces maintenance time, dose, and documentation costs.
• Should an AVCO SSPV require service, parts kits are readily available.  AVCO SSPV’s are designed so that they can be assembled in only the correct way.
• AVCO SSPV solenoids are energy efficient and use 1/3 less energy than the OEM equipment.  Over an average size BWR, this amounts to over 1Kw less load on the EDG.

 

AVCO Commercial Considerations:

• As mentioned above, AVCO enjoys some 30% of its business from the nuclear industry.  AVCO personnel are thoroughly familiar with the needs of the nuclear industry and have a solid commitment to its success.  Your business will not be a sideline to AVCO.
• Choosing AVCO SSPV’s will significantly reduce spare parts inventory.  Unless there is an unexpected event, the SSPV’s require no maintenance.  In turn, the elimination of one complete valve in the scram pilot system reduces the need for spare valves.  All AVCO SSPV’s are identical and any plant anywhere in the world that utilizes the AVCO SSPV is a potential spare valve source.
• AVCO SSPV pricing is very competitive with the current cost of OEM overhaul kits.
• We recommend you contact our current SSPV users to hear their experiences first hand.