When plant chemistry is off due to leaking tubes in a condenser, typically plants will choose one of the following options:
- Run until next scheduled outage or
- Go into an unplanned outage
The decision is normally made depending on the severity of the tube leak. In the case of a minor tube leak, chemicals can be added to offset the disparity in plant chemistry until the plant is able to reach a scheduled outage. Immediate shutdown is usually required for more severe tube leaks. In either case, it’s imperative that you have a reliable tube plugging solution at your fingertips!
Choosing temporary friction fit tapered and elastomer/polymer plugs to repair leaking condenser tubes shouldn’t be an option. The Institute of Nuclear Power (INPO) Main Condenser Cooling Water Inleakge report states “plug failures, inappropriate plugs, or missing plugs have led to unexpected or premature leakage from plugged tubes.”1 Avoid this potentially costly mistake by choosing a permanent tube plugging method.
Did you know that over 97% of US Nuclear Plants use Pop-A-Plug® Tube Plugs as their permanent tube plugging solution?
Pop-A-Plug Tube Plugs are pressure rated up to 7000 PsiG (483 BarG) and meet all guidelines contained in the EPRI Condenser In-Leakage2 and INPO Main Condenser Cooling Water Inleakage1 report, offering a mechanical solution to seal leaking condenser tubes. Pop-A-Plug Tube Plugs also accommodate a broad range of tube sizes and materials. Their ability to outperform temporary plugs in low, medium, and high pressure applications make them a first choice for nuclear plants looking to maximize plant uptime and prevent disparities in plant chemistry.
Pop-A-Plug Tube Plugs eliminate recurring tube leaks through offering the following benefits:
- Plug material matches tube material preventing thermal expansion and contraction issues and/or undesirable galvanic interaction
- Unique engineered breakaway controls the installation force preventing damage to the tube, tubesheet, and surrounding tubes
- Maintain helium leak tight seal to 1 x 10-10 cc/sec
- Ideal for use in applications with coated tubes and tubesheet
Readily available from stock with 24/7 emergency manufacturing capability
Want to See It in Action?
Request a Lunch & Learn Demo and see why our Pop-A-Plug Tube Plugging System is the preferred mechanical solution by nuclear plants around the world!
Want to know more?
1 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (2013).Main Condenser Cooling Water Inleakage.
2 Condenser In-Leakage Guideline, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Palo Alto, CA, 2000, TR-112819 Page 7.