A case study of a nuclear plant recently experiencing a significant equipment failure on a large pump due to the introduction of foreign material into the lube oil system. The equipment did not have any form of filtration installed but just a rough strainer in the reservoir.
Prior to this event, the primary PdM technologies in use consisted of surface-mounted accelerometers, thermography and oil analysis. Vibration data was somewhat useful during the event. However, oil analysis was the main technology utilized to identify the problem.Â