Seal member deterioration measurement device and deterioration measurement method

Abstract

To provide a seal member deterioration measurement device that can measure (estimate) the deterioration of a seal member without leaking a fluid sealed by the seal member while a device in which the fluid is sealed by the seal member is operated.SOLUTION: A seal member deterioration measurement device comprises a second seal member 21 for sealing a second fluid 26 in a second environment whose material and dimensions are equal or equivalent to those of a first seal member 14 for sealing a first fluid 11 in a first environment. A flow passage for the first fluid 11 is independent of that for the second fluid 26. The second environment is an environment simulating the first environment so that the deterioration rate of the seal member becomes equal to or higher than that in the first environment.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a deterioration measurement device and a deterioration measurement method for a sealing member. [Background technology]

[0002] When sealing members (such as O-rings, X-rings, D-rings, T-rings, square rings, round-top rings, and convex-top rings) deteriorate, their sealing performance decreases, and there is a risk of leakage of the fluid they are sealing, so the deterioration of sealing members is measured. For example, a known method for evaluating the deterioration of O-rings is to measure the compression set rate of the O-ring.

[0003] Regarding the measurement of O-ring deterioration, Patent Document 1 discloses a cooling device for electronic devices that includes an O-ring deterioration evaluation unit installed midway through a cooling pipe for flowing a cooling medium to an electronic device, and a plurality of couplers that are attached at one end to the O-ring deterioration evaluation unit and have a structure in which the cooling medium flows in from the one end and a structure in which the other end can be waterproofed, and each of the plurality of couplers has an O-ring that is the same as the O-ring attached to the electronic device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-54389 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the cooling device of Patent Document 1, the O-rings in the multiple couplers attached to the O-ring deterioration evaluation unit are placed in the same environment as the O-rings attached to the electronic device (power amplifier). Therefore, Patent Document 1 states that the deterioration level of the O-rings attached to the electronic device can be determined by removing each of the O-rings in the multiple couplers attached to the O-ring deterioration evaluation unit at regular intervals and measuring the deterioration level of each O-ring, without disassembling the cooling device to remove the O-rings attached to the electronic device or stopping the operation of the electronic device (the flow of the cooling medium).

[0006] However, the cooling device of Patent Document 1 has a risk of leakage of the cooling medium (fluid) in the cooling pipe when the coupler attached to the O-ring deterioration evaluation unit is removed from the cooling pipe. Furthermore, while the possibility of leakage of the cooling medium can be reduced by incorporating an automatic opening / closing valve in at least one of the plug (male) and socket (female) of the coupler, if the opening / closing function of the valve malfunctions, there is a risk of the cooling medium overflowing if the coupler is removed while the electronic device is running. Therefore, it is considered preferable to actually shut down the electronic device before removing the coupler.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a sealing member deterioration measurement device that can measure (estimate) the deterioration of a sealing member while operating equipment in which a fluid is sealed by a sealing member, without causing the fluid to leak. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present application includes multiple means for solving the above problem, and one example thereof is a device comprising a second sealing member that is made of the same or equivalent material and dimensions as a first sealing member that seals a first fluid in a first environment and that seals a second fluid in a second environment, wherein the first fluid and the second fluid have independent flow paths, and the second environment is an environment that simulates the first environment so that the deterioration rate of the sealing member is equal to or greater than that of the first environment. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to measure (estimate) the deterioration of a first seal member while operating a device in which a first fluid is sealed by a first seal member, without causing leakage of the first fluid. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become clear from the description of the following embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 2 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of a lower portion of a device and a cross section of a sealing member deterioration measuring device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of part II in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is an example of a graph showing the relationship between the time the second seal member is placed in the second environment and the amount of deterioration of the second seal member. [Figure 5] 3 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of a lower part of a device and a cross section of another form of a sealing member deterioration measuring device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of a lower portion of a device and a cross section of a sealing member deterioration measuring device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic view of part VII in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 10 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of a lower portion of a device and a cross section of a sealing member deterioration measuring device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an enlarged schematic view of part IX in FIG. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The configuration and operation of sealing member deterioration measuring devices according to first to third embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same reference numerals denote the same parts.

[0012] (First embodiment) Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of the lower part of a device 1 and a cross section of a sealing member deterioration measuring device 2 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an enlarged view of part II in Fig. 1.

[0013] The equipment 1 is, for example, a tank that stores a first fluid 11 and includes a side plate 12, a bottom plate 13, and a first seal member 14. The first fluid 11 is, for example, cooling water for a nuclear reactor, which is a liquid that contains heat and radioactive material.

[0014] The side plate 12 is, for example, a cylindrical metal plate having the strength to withstand the pressure of the first fluid 11. The bottom plate 13 is, for example, a disk-shaped metal plate, and is provided with an annular groove 13a in which the first seal member 14 is disposed at the portion in contact with the lower end surface 12a of the side plate 12.

[0015] The first sealing member 14, for example an O-ring, is mounted in the annular groove 13a and is compressed by the lower end surface 12a of the side plate 12 and the bottom surface 13b of the annular groove 13a, as shown in Figure 2, to seal the first fluid 11 in the first environment.

[0016] Here, the first environment is the environment in which the first sealing member 14 is placed, and more specifically, is an environment determined by factors (deterioration factors) that act on the first sealing member 14 and contribute to the deterioration of the first sealing member 14, such as oxygen concentration, heat amount, radiation amount, as well as pressure (load) from surrounding structures (side plate 12 and bottom plate 13) and pressure from the first fluid 11.

[0017] 2, in this embodiment, the main deterioration factors acting on the first seal member 14 are the pressure P1 from the side plate 12, the bottom plate 13, and the first fluid 11 to the first seal member 14, and the amount of heat Q1 and amount of radiation α1 from the first fluid 11. Therefore, hereinafter, the first environment and a second environment (described later) will be expressed using the pressure P, the amount of heat Q, and the amount of radiation α.

[0018] The device 1 is put into operation after the first seal member 14 is attached to the annular groove 13a, the side plate 12 and the bottom plate 13 are assembled with bolts or the like, and the first fluid 11 is poured in. Note that although an O-ring is exemplified as the first seal member 14, the first seal member 14 may also be an X-ring, a D-ring, a T-ring, a square ring, a rounded ring, a convex ring, or another seal ring.

[0019] The seal member deterioration measuring device 2 includes a second seal member 21 that is made of the same or equivalent material and dimensions as the first seal member 14 and seals a second fluid 26 in a second environment. The first fluid 11 and the second fluid 26 have independent flow paths. The second environment is an environment that simulates the first environment so that the deterioration rate of the seal member is equal to or greater than that in the first environment.

[0020] The seal member deterioration measuring device 2 is preferably detachably fixed to the device 1 with bolts or the like.

[0021] As described above, the second seal member 21 is a seal member made of the same or equivalent material and dimensions as the first seal member 14. Therefore, for example, if the first seal member 14 is an O-ring, it is preferable that the second seal member 21 is also an O-ring, and if the first seal member 14 is a square ring, it is preferable that the second seal member 21 is also a square ring.

[0022] The second seal member 21 also seals in the second environment a second fluid 26, which is a fluid having an independent flow path from the first fluid 11. In this embodiment, the second fluid 26 is a gas (e.g., air), and the first fluid 11 and the second fluid 26 are blocked by the bottom plate 13, so that the flow paths are independent.

[0023] It is preferable that the second environment is set so that at least one of the deterioration factors acting on the second seal member 21, namely, oxygen concentration, heat amount, radiation amount, pressure (load) from surrounding structures (bottom plate 13 and second seal member holding jig 22), and pressure from the second fluid 26, is equal to or greater than that in the first environment.

[0024] When the second environment is set in this manner, the deterioration rate of the second seal member 21 becomes equal to or greater than the deterioration rate of the first seal member 14. Therefore, by measuring the deterioration amount DQ2 (see FIG. 4) of the second seal member 21 removed from the seal member deterioration measuring device 2, the deterioration amount of the first seal member 14 can be estimated.

[0025] The "deterioration rate of the seal member" refers to the amount of deterioration of the seal member per unit time that the seal member is placed in an environment defined by the deterioration factors.

[0026] Incidentally, the seal member deterioration measuring device 2 preferably includes a second seal member holding jig 22 and a pressure applying device 23 in addition to the second seal member 21 described above.

[0027] The second seal member holding jig 22 is a jig that holds the second seal member 21 in the second environment, and is, for example, a disk-shaped metal that is detachably fixed with bolts or the like to the lower surface 13c of the bottom plate 13. The second seal member holding jig 22 is preferably provided with an annular groove 22a for holding the second seal member 21 and a recess 22d for holding the second fluid 26.

[0028] The annular groove 22a is an annular groove that holds the second seal member 21, and preferably opens toward the bottom plate 13. As a result, like the first seal member 14, the upper part of which abuts against the lower surface of the side plate 12, the upper part of the second seal member 21 abuts against the lower surface 13c of the bottom plate 13, and the second environment can be made closer to the first environment in terms of the magnitude of the pressure (load) received by the upper part of the seal member.

[0029] Furthermore, it is preferable that the axial depth D2 (see FIG. 2) of the annular groove 22a in the second seal member holding jig 22 is equal to or less than the axial depth D1 of the annular groove 13a in the bottom plate 13. This allows the seal member deterioration measuring device 2 to set the pressures P2up and P2down that compress the second seal member 21 in the axial direction of the second seal member holding jig 22 to be equal to or greater than the pressures P1up and P1down that compress the first seal member 14 in the axial direction of the bottom plate 13.

[0030] Furthermore, in order to provide a pressure application device 23 (described later) on the outer periphery of the second seal member 21, the annular groove 22a is preferably open on the radially outer side.

[0031] The seal member deterioration measuring device 2 is preferably provided with a pressure applying device 23 that applies a pressure P2out to the second seal member 21 that is equal to or greater than the pressure P1in applied to the first seal member 14.

[0032] The degree of deterioration of the first and second seal members 14, 21 is affected by the degree of compression of the first and second seal members 14, 21. The degree of compression of the first and second seal members 14, 21 is also affected by the magnitude of the pressure P applied to the seal members. However, the degree of deterioration of the first and second seal members 14, 21 may not be affected by the direction of the pressure P applied to the first and second seal members 14, 21. For example, O-rings are not anisotropic (the characteristics of O-rings are the same regardless of the direction of pressure due to their shape). Therefore, if the first and second seal members 14, 21 are O-rings, the degree of deterioration of the first and second seal members 14, 21 will be the same if the amount of compression due to pressure is the same, even if the direction of the pressure is different.

[0033] 2 is provided on the outer periphery of the second seal member 21, and applies a pressure P2out to the second seal member 21 toward the center of the second seal member 21. In other words, the direction of the pressure P2out applied to the second seal member 21 is different from the direction of the pressure P1in applied to the first seal member 14.

[0034] On the other hand, the pressure applying device 23 can apply a pressure P2out to the second seal member 21 that is equal to or greater than the pressure P1in applied to the first seal member 14. Therefore, the seal member deterioration measuring device 2 can make the deterioration amount of the second seal member 21 due to pressure equal to or greater than the deterioration amount of the first seal member 14.

[0035] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the pressure applying device 23 preferably includes a circular belt 24 and a fastener 25, and applies pressure to the second seal member 21 toward the center of the second seal member 21 by reducing the diameter of the circular belt 24 using the fastener 25.

[0036] The circular belt 24 is preferably, for example, a long, band-shaped, thin metal plate, and has an annular portion 24a that is rolled into an annular shape along the outer periphery of the second seal member 21, and a pair of extension portions 24c that extend radially outward from both ends of the annular portion 24a with a gap 24b therebetween. Each of the pair of extension portions 24c is preferably provided with a through-hole 24d for inserting a bolt 25a, which will be described later.

[0037] It is preferable that the fastener 25 comprises a bolt 25a and a nut 25b, and by tightening the bolt 25a and the nut 25b, the distance 24b between the pair of extension portions 24c can be narrowed, thereby reducing the diameter of the annular portion 24a.

[0038] As shown in Figure 2, a pressure P2out is applied to the second seal member 21 by the pressure application device 23 in a radially inward direction of the second seal member 21, and a pressure P2in, which is a reaction force in a radially outward direction of the second seal member 21, is applied from the inner diameter side surface 22c of the annular groove 22a of the second seal member holding jig 22.

[0039] On the other hand, a pressure P1in is applied to the first seal member 14 in the radially outward direction of the first seal member 14 due to the weight of the first fluid 11, and a pressure P1out, which is a reaction force in the radially inward direction of the first seal member 14, is applied from the outer diameter side surface 13d of the annular groove 13a of the bottom plate 13.

[0040] It is preferable that the bolt 25a and nut 25b of the fastener 25 are tightened so that the radially outward pressure P2in of the second seal member 21 applied to the second seal member 21 from the inner diameter side surface 22c of the annular groove 22a of the second seal member holding jig 22 is equal to or greater than the radially outward pressure P1in of the first seal member 14 applied to the first seal member 14 by the first fluid 11.

[0041] In this embodiment, the first fluid 11 is a liquid (cooling water), the second fluid 26 is a gas (air), and the compressibility of the second fluid 26 is extremely high relative to the first fluid 11. Therefore, as described above, when the pressure applying device 23 presses the second seal member 21 so that the pressure P2out shown in Fig. 2 becomes equal to or higher than the pressure P1out, the second fluid 26 sandwiched between the bottom surface 22b and the side surface 22c of the annular groove 22a, the lower surface 13c of the bottom plate 13, and the inner side surface 21a of the second seal member 21 is compressed, passes through the gap between the lower surface 13c of the bottom plate 13 and the upper surface 22e of the second seal member holding jig 22, and moves into the space sandwiched between the recess 22d and the lower surface 13c of the bottom plate 13.

[0042] As a result, the inner side surface 21a of the second seal member 21 abuts against the side surface 22c of the annular groove 22a, and a pressure P2in, which is a reaction force against the pressure P2out, is applied to the inner side surface 21a of the second seal member 21 from the side surface 22c of the annular groove 22a.

[0043] The structure around the second seal member 21 is preferably the same as the structure around the first seal member 14. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 2, the cross-sectional shape of the inner diameter side surface 22c of the annular groove 22a is preferably a shape that imitates the cross-sectional shape of the first fluid 11 that contacts the radially inner arc surface of the first seal member 14.

[0044] This makes it possible to make the distribution of pressure P2in with which the inner diameter side surface 22c of the annular groove 22a presses the radially inner side of the second seal member 21 equivalent to the distribution of pressure P1in with which the first fluid 11 presses the first seal member 14 from the radially inner side toward the radially outer side. Note that the cross-sectional shape of the inner diameter side surface 22c of the annular groove 22a may be flat instead of being an arc.

[0045] In this way, the second environment of this embodiment is set so that the pressure P2 (P2up, P2down, P2in, P2out) acting on the second seal member 21 is equal to or greater than the first environment (the pressure P1 (P1up, P1down, P1in, P1out) which is the main factor acting on the first seal member 14).

[0046] [Deterioration measurement method] The method for measuring the deterioration of the first sealing member 14 in this embodiment involves placing a second sealing member 21 that is made of the same or equivalent material and dimensions as the first sealing member 14 that seals the first fluid 11, and that seals a second fluid 26 that has an independent flow path from the first fluid 11, in a second environment that simulates the first environment so that the deterioration rate of the second sealing member 21 is equal to or greater than that of the first environment in which the first sealing member 14 is placed, and measuring the deterioration of the second sealing member 21 to estimate the deterioration of the first sealing member 14.

[0047] Specifically, in step 101, the initial dimensions, hardness, etc. of the second seal member 21 are measured and recorded.

[0048] Next, in step 102, the seal member deterioration measuring device 2 is fixed to the device 1 before the device 1 is put into operation.

[0049] Next, after a predetermined time has elapsed, in step 103, the seal member deterioration measuring device 2 is removed from the device 1, and the second seal member 21 is taken out from the seal member deterioration measuring device 2.

[0050] At this time, since the first fluid 11 and the second fluid 26 have independent flow paths, the second sealing member 21 can be removed without causing leakage of the first fluid 11 sealed by the first sealing member 14 while the equipment 1 in which the first fluid 11 is sealed by the first sealing member 14 is still in operation.

[0051] Next, in step 104, the dimensions, hardness, etc. of the second seal member 21 are measured and compared with the initial dimensions, hardness, etc. of the second seal member 21 to measure the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21. For example, the outer diameter, inner diameter, and cross-sectional thickness of the second seal member 21 are measured to determine the compression set of the second seal member 21, thereby measuring the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21.

[0052] Here, the second seal member 21 is placed in a second environment that simulates the first environment so that the deterioration rate of the second seal member 21 is equal to or greater than that of the first environment in which the first seal member 14 is placed. Therefore, the deterioration amount of the first seal member 14 in this embodiment can be estimated by measuring the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21.

[0053] Then, if the measured deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 does not exceed the limit value, the second seal member 21 is reattached to the seal member deterioration measuring device 2, the seal member deterioration measuring device 2 is re-fixed to the equipment 1, and the process returns to step 103.

[0054] Also, if the measured deterioration amount DQ2 of the second sealing member 21 exceeds the limit value, the operation of the equipment 1 is stopped, the equipment 1 is disassembled, the first sealing member 14 is removed, a new first sealing member 14 is installed, the equipment 1 is reassembled, and the process returns to step 101.

[0055] Fig. 4 is an example of a graph showing the relationship between the time t that the second seal member 21 is placed in the second environment and the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21. By using Fig. 4, it is possible to estimate the time to replace the first seal member 14 before the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 reaches its limit value. The deterioration measurement method is described below.

[0056] In step 201, first, the initial dimensions, hardness, etc. of the second seal member 21 are measured and recorded.

[0057] Next, in step 202, the seal member deterioration measuring device 2 is fixed to the device 1 before the device 1 is put into operation.

[0058] Next, in step 203, at an elapsed time t1 before the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 reaches the limit value, the seal member deterioration measuring device 2 is removed from the device 1, and the second seal member 21 is taken out of the seal member deterioration measuring device 2 to measure the deterioration amount DQ2t1 of the second seal member 21. Then, the elapsed time t1 and the deterioration amount DQ2t1 are plotted on a graph as shown in FIG.

[0059] Next, in step 204, the second seal member 21 is reattached to the seal member deterioration measuring device 2, and the seal member deterioration measuring device 2 is fixed to the device 1 again.

[0060] Next, in step 205, at an elapsed time t2 before the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 reaches the limit value, the seal member deterioration measuring device 2 is removed from the device 1, the second seal member 21 is taken out from the seal member deterioration measuring device 2, and the deterioration amount DQ2t2 of the second seal member 21 is measured. Then, the elapsed time t2 and the deterioration amount DQ2t2 are plotted on a graph as shown in FIG.

[0061] Next, in step 206, the second seal member 21 is reattached to the seal member deterioration measuring device 2, and the seal member deterioration measuring device 2 is fixed to the device 1 again.

[0062] Next, in step 207, at an elapsed time t3 before the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 reaches the limit value, the seal member deterioration measuring device 2 is removed from the device 1, and the second seal member 21 is taken out of the seal member deterioration measuring device 2 to measure the deterioration amount DQ2t3 of the second seal member 21. Then, the elapsed time t3 and the deterioration amount DQ2t3 are plotted on a graph as shown in FIG.

[0063] 4, the degradation rate of the second seal member 21 is calculated from the slope of a line connecting the time t during which the second seal member 21 is placed in the second environment and the measured degradation amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21. Then, the estimated elapsed time Tlimit at which the degradation amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 will reach the limit value is calculated from the degradation rate of the second seal member 21 and the limit value of the degradation amount DQ2.

[0064] Here, the second seal member 21 is placed in a second environment that simulates the first environment so that the deterioration rate of the second seal member 21 is equal to or greater than that of the first environment in which the first seal member 14 is placed. Therefore, the deterioration rates of the second seal member 21 and the first seal member 14 are equal to or greater than that of the first environment.

[0065] Therefore, it can be estimated that the deterioration amount of the first seal member 14 will reach its limit value at the elapsed time Tlimit when the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 reaches its limit value.

[0066] Therefore, next, in step 209, when the elapsed time Tlimit is reached, the operation of the device 1 is stopped, the device 1 is disassembled, the first sealing member 14 is removed, a new first sealing member 14 is attached, the device 1 is reassembled, and the process returns to step 201.

[0067] Although the embodiment has been described in which the time t for measuring the deterioration amount of the second seal member 21 is three, t1 to t3, the present invention is not limited to this, and the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 may be measured at a plurality of times t before the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 reaches its limit value. Increasing the number of times t for measuring the deterioration amount of the second seal member 21 can improve the accuracy of the elapsed time Tlimit at which the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 is estimated to reach its limit value.

[0068] Furthermore, although the embodiment in which one seal member deterioration measuring device 2 is attached to the equipment 1 has been described above, a plurality of seal member deterioration measuring devices 2 may be attached to the equipment 1.

[0069] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of the lower part of the device 1 and a cross section of another form of the sealing member deterioration measuring device 2 according to this embodiment.

[0070] As shown in Figure 5, a sealing member deterioration measuring device 102, which is another form of the sealing member deterioration measuring device 2 of this embodiment, has a second sealing member deterioration measuring device 2b removably fixed with bolts or the like to the underside 22f of the second sealing member holding jig 22 of the first sealing member deterioration measuring device 2a attached to the bottom plate 13 of the equipment 1, and a third sealing member deterioration measuring device 2c removably fixed with bolts or the like to the underside 22f of the second sealing member holding jig 22 of the second sealing member deterioration measuring device 2b.

[0071] By using the seal member deterioration measuring device 102, it is possible to calculate the elapsed time Tlimit at which the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 is estimated to reach the limit value without reusing the second seal member 21 that has been removed and measured.

[0072] A deterioration measurement method using the seal member deterioration measurement device 102 will be described in detail below.

[0073] In step 301, first, the initial dimensions, hardness, etc. of the second seal member 21 are measured and recorded by each of the three seal member deterioration measuring devices 2.

[0074] Next, in step 302, before operating the equipment 1, the first sealing member deterioration measuring device 2a is fixed to the equipment 1, the second sealing member deterioration measuring device 2b is fixed to the first sealing member deterioration measuring device 2a, and the third sealing member deterioration measuring device 2c is fixed to the second sealing member deterioration measuring device 2b.

[0075] Next, in step 303, at an elapsed time t1 before the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 reaches the limit value, the third seal member deterioration measurement device 2c is detached from the second seal member deterioration measurement device 2b, the second seal member 21 is removed from the third seal member deterioration measurement device 2c, and the deterioration amount DQ2t1 of the second seal member 21 at the elapsed time t1 is measured. Then, the elapsed time t1 and the deterioration amount DQ2t1 are plotted on a graph as shown in FIG.

[0076] After the measurement, the removed third seal member deterioration measuring device 2c is not fixed again to the second seal member deterioration measuring device 2b.

[0077] Next, in step 304, at an elapsed time t2 before the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 reaches the limit value, the second seal member deterioration measurement device 2b is detached from the first seal member deterioration measurement device 2a, the second seal member 21 is removed from the second seal member deterioration measurement device 2b, and the deterioration amount DQ2t2 of the second seal member 21 at the elapsed time t2 is measured. Then, the elapsed time t2 and the deterioration amount DQ2t2 are plotted on a graph as shown in FIG.

[0078] After the measurement, the removed second seal member deterioration measuring device 2b is not fixed again to the first seal member deterioration measuring device 2a.

[0079] Next, in step 305, at an elapsed time t3 before the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 reaches the limit value, the first seal member deterioration measuring device 2a is detached from the device 1, the second seal member 21 is removed from the first seal member deterioration measuring device 2a, and the deterioration amount DQ2t3 of the second seal member 21 at the elapsed time t3 is measured. Then, the elapsed time t3 and the deterioration amount DQ2t3 are plotted on a graph as shown in FIG.

[0080] After the measurement, the removed first seal member deterioration measuring device 2a is not fixed to the equipment 1 again.

[0081] 4, the degradation rate of the second seal member 21 is calculated from the slope of a line connecting the elapsed time t after the second seal member 21 is placed in the second environment and the measured degradation amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21. Then, the estimated elapsed time Tlimit at which the degradation amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 will reach the limit value is calculated from the degradation rate of the second seal member 21 and the limit value of the degradation amount DQ2.

[0082] Here, the second seal member 21 is placed in a second environment that simulates the first environment so that the deterioration rate of the second seal member 21 is equal to or greater than that of the first environment in which the first seal member 14 is placed. Therefore, the deterioration rates of the second seal member 21 and the first seal member 14 are equal to or greater than that of the first seal member 14. Therefore, it can be estimated that the deterioration rate of the first seal member 14 will reach its limit value at the elapsed time Tlimit when the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 reaches its limit value.

[0083] Next, in step 307, when the elapsed time Tlimit is reached, the operation of the device 1 is stopped, the device 1 is disassembled, the first seal member 14 is removed, a new first seal member 14 is attached, the device 1 is reassembled, and the process returns to step 301.

[0084] Although the seal member deterioration measuring device 102 is shown as having three seal member deterioration measuring devices fixed in a superimposed manner, the present invention is not limited to this and it is sufficient that two or more seal member deterioration measuring devices 2 are fixed in a superimposed manner. By increasing the number of superimposed seal member deterioration measuring devices 2 and the number of measurements, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the elapsed time Tlimit at which it is estimated that the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 will reach the deterioration value.

[0085] [effect] The sealing member deterioration measuring device 2 of this embodiment is equipped with a second sealing member 21 that is made of the same or equivalent material and dimensions as a first sealing member 14 that seals a first fluid 11 in a first environment and that seals a second fluid 26 in a second environment, the first fluid 11 and the second fluid 26 having independent flow paths, and the second environment being an environment that simulates the first environment so that the deterioration rate of the sealing member is equal to or greater than that of the first environment.

[0086] When the second environment is set in this manner, the deterioration rate of the second seal member 21 may be equal to or greater than the deterioration rate of the first seal member 14. Then, by measuring the deterioration amount of the second seal member 21, it is possible to estimate the deterioration amount of the first seal member 14 without stopping the operation of the device 1 related to the first seal member 14 or disassembling the device 1.

[0087] In particular, since the first fluid 11 and the second fluid 26 have independent flow paths, even if the second seal member 21 is removed to measure the deterioration amount of the second seal member 21, leakage of the first fluid 11 related to the device 1 cannot occur. Therefore, the seal member deterioration measuring device 2 of this embodiment can measure the deterioration of the second seal member 21 and estimate the deterioration amount of the first seal member 14 without causing leakage of the first fluid 11 while the device 1 is operating.

[0088] The second environment of the seal member deterioration measuring device 2 of this embodiment is preferably set so that at least one of the oxygen concentration, heat amount, radiation dose acting on the second seal member 21, and the pressure from the surrounding structures and the second fluid 26 is equal to or greater than that of the first environment. Deterioration factors that contribute to the deterioration of the seal member include the oxygen concentration, heat amount, radiation dose acting on the seal member, pressure (load) from the surrounding structures, and pressure from the sealed fluid, so by controlling these factors, the second environment can be made closer to the first environment.

[0089] In this embodiment, the structure surrounding the second seal member 21 is preferably the same as or equivalent to the structure surrounding the first seal member 14. This makes the pressure (load) that the first seal member 14 and the second seal member 21 receive from their surrounding structures the same as or equivalent to each other, and makes it possible to make the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 the same as or equivalent to (close to) the deterioration amount of the first seal member 14.

[0090] In this embodiment, a pressure application device 23 is provided that applies a pressure P2out to the second seal member 21 that is equal to or greater than the pressure P1in applied to the first seal member 14. This makes it possible to make the pressure applied to the second seal member 21 equal to or greater than the pressure applied to the first seal member 14, and to make the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 due to the pressure equal to or greater than the deterioration amount of the first seal member 14.

[0091] Furthermore, the pressure applying device 23 of this embodiment may be provided on the outer periphery of the second seal member 21, and may apply the pressure P2out to the second seal member toward the center of the second seal member 21. This simplifies the structures of the pressure applying device 23 and the second seal member holding jig 22, and reduces costs.

[0092] In addition, the method for measuring seal member deterioration in this embodiment involves placing a second seal member 21 that is made of the same or equivalent material and dimensions as a first seal member 14 that seals a first fluid 11, and that seals a second fluid 26 that has an independent flow path from the first fluid 11, in a second environment that simulates the first environment so that the deterioration rate of the seal member is equal to or greater than that of the first environment in which the first seal member 14 is placed, and measuring the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second seal member 21 to estimate the deterioration amount of the first seal member 14.

[0093] This makes it possible to measure the deterioration amount DQ2 of the second sealing member 21 and estimate the deterioration amount of the first sealing member 14 without causing the first fluid 11 to leak, while keeping the equipment 1 in operation in which the first fluid 11 is sealed by the first sealing member 14.

[0094] (Second embodiment) 6 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of the lower part of the device 1 and a cross section of a sealing member deterioration measuring device 202 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an enlarged view of part VII in FIG.

[0095] The seal member deterioration measuring device 202 according to this embodiment differs from the seal member deterioration measuring device 2 according to the first embodiment in the following points.

[0096] That is, in the first embodiment, the first fluid 11 is reactor cooling water (liquid) and the second fluid 26 is air (gas), and the second fluid 26 is different from the first fluid 11. Furthermore, because the second fluid 26 is air, the second seal member 21 is not in contact with the first fluid 11, which is a heat source or a radiation source, and is distant from the heat source or the radiation source.

[0097] In contrast, in this embodiment, the second fluid 226 sealed by the second seal member 21 has the same or equivalent components and temperature as the first fluid 11 sealed by the first seal member 14. Furthermore, the second seal member 21 comes into contact with the second fluid 226, which has the same or equivalent components and temperature as the first fluid 11, which is a heat or radiation source. Therefore, the distance of the second seal member 21 from the heat or radiation source is the same as or close to that of the first seal member 14.

[0098] Specifically, in the first embodiment, when the pressure adding device 23 presses the second sealing member 21 so that the pressure P2out shown in FIG. 2 becomes equal to or greater than the pressure P1out, the first fluid 11 is a liquid (cooling water), the second fluid 26 is a gas (air), and the compressibility of the second fluid 26 is extremely high relative to the first fluid 11.

[0099] Therefore, the second fluid 26 sandwiched between the bottom surface 22b and side surface 22c of the annular groove 22a, the lower surface 13c of the bottom plate 13, and the inner side surface 21a of the second seal member 21 is compressed, passes through the gap between the lower surface 13c of the bottom plate 13 and the upper surface 22e of the second seal member holding jig 22, and moves into the space sandwiched between the recess 22d and the lower surface 13c of the bottom plate 13.

[0100] As a result, the inner side surface 21a of the second seal member 21 abuts against the side surface 22c of the annular groove 22a, and a pressure P2in, which is a reaction force to the pressure P2out, is applied to the inner side surface 21a of the second seal member 21 from the side surface 22c of the annular groove 22a.

[0101] On the other hand, in this embodiment, the second fluid 226 sealed by the second seal member 21 has the same components and temperature as the first fluid 11, or the components and temperature are equivalent to those of the first fluid 11. Therefore, when the compressibility of the second fluid 226 is the same as or equivalent to that of the first fluid 11 and the second seal member 21 is pressed by the pressure applying device 23 so that the pressure P2out is equal to or greater than the pressure P1out, the second fluid 26 becomes as shown in FIG.

[0102] That is, even if the second fluid 26 sandwiched between the bottom surface 22b and side surface 222c of the annular groove 222a, the lower surface 13c of the bottom plate 13, and the inner side surface 21a of the second seal member 21 is compressed, it does not move into the space sandwiched between the recess 22d and the lower surface 13c of the bottom plate 13, but presses against the inner side surface 21a of the second seal member 21. As a result, the second seal member 21 comes into contact with the second fluid 226, which has the same or equivalent components and temperature as the first fluid 11, which is a heat or radiation source. Therefore, the distance of the second seal member 21 from the heat or radiation source (second fluid 226) becomes equivalent to or close to the distance of the first seal member 14 (from the heat or radiation source (first fluid 11)).

[0103] [effect] The second fluid 226 in this embodiment has the same components and temperature as the first fluid 11 or has the same components and temperature as the first fluid 11. This makes it possible to make the deterioration rate of the second fluid 226 due to the components and temperature the same as or comparable to the deterioration rate of the first fluid 11 due to the components and temperature.

[0104] In this embodiment, the second seal member 21 is located at a distance from the heat or radiation source (second fluid 226) that is equal to or close to the distance from the heat or radiation source (first fluid 11) of the first seal member 14. Therefore, the heat quantity Q2 and the radiation quantity α2 in the second environment can be made equal to or close to the heat quantity Q1 and the radiation quantity α1 in the first environment.

[0105] (Third embodiment) 8 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of the lower part of the device 1 and a cross section of a sealing member deterioration measuring device 302 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an enlarged view of part IX in FIG.

[0106] The sealing member deterioration measuring device 302 of this embodiment differs from the sealing member deterioration measuring device 202 of the second embodiment in the shape of the second sealing member holding jig 322 and in that it is equipped with a pressure adjustment device 323 instead of the pressure application device 23.

[0107] That is, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the second seal member holding jig 222 has no side plate on the radially outer side of the annular groove 222a and is open, and a pressure application device 23 is provided on the outer periphery of the second seal member 21.

[0108] Also, as shown in Figure 7, the direction of pressure applied to the second seal member 21 in the second embodiment is the direction in which the circular belt 24 of the pressure application device 23 applies pressure P2out to the second seal member 21, and is the direction toward the center (central part) of the second seal member 21.

[0109] In contrast, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, the second seal member holding jig 322 does not open on the radially outer side of the annular groove 322a, and has the same or equivalent shape as the annular groove 13a of the bottom plate 13.

[0110] The second seal member holding jig 322 of this embodiment is also provided with a through-hole 322h that passes through from the lower surface 22f toward the bottom surface of the recess 22d and has a female thread on the side surface.

[0111] Furthermore, the second seal member holding jig 322 of this embodiment is provided with a pressure adjusting device 323, instead of the pressure adding device 23, that adjusts the pressure P32in of the second fluid 226 to be equal to or higher than the pressure P1in of the first fluid 11.

[0112] The pressure adjusting device 323 is, for example, a seal screw having a seal material at its tip, which is screwed into the through hole 322h, and by adjusting the insertion depth of the seal screw into the through hole 322h, it is possible to adjust the internal pressure of the second fluid 226 sealed by the second seal member 21. In this way, the pressure adjusting device 323 can maintain the pressure P32in of the second fluid 226 shown in FIG. 9 at or above the pressure P1in of the first fluid 11.

[0113] Furthermore, the direction in which the second seal member 21 is pressed in this embodiment is the direction of pressure P32in in which the second fluid 226 pressurized by the pressure adjustment device 323 presses the second seal member 21, which is a direction from the inside to the outside in the radial direction of the second seal member 21. Therefore, this is the same direction as the pressure P1in in which the first fluid 11 presses the first seal member 14.

[0114] As a result, the structure around the second seal member 21 of this embodiment is closer to the structure around the first seal member 14 than the structure around the second seal member 21 of the second embodiment.

[0115] [effect] In this embodiment, the pressure adjusting device 323 capable of adjusting the pressure of the second fluid 226 is provided, and therefore the pressure P32in with which the second fluid 226 presses the second seal member 21 can be adjusted to be equal to or greater than the pressure P1in of the first fluid 11. This makes it possible to make the amount of deterioration of the second seal member 21 due to the pressure of the second fluid 226 the same as or equivalent to the amount of deterioration of the first seal member 14 due to the pressure of the first fluid 11.

[0116] In this article, "equivalent" means that the things being compared are essentially the same or can be considered to be the same.

[0117] In addition to the examples described in the above embodiments, the first and second environments in which the first and second seal members are placed can be defined by at least one of the deterioration factors acting on each seal member, including oxygen concentration, heat, radiation, pressure from surrounding structures, and pressure from the sealing fluid. By making the deterioration factors the same or equivalent in the first and second environments, the deterioration rates of the first and second seal members can be made the same or equivalent. In other words, by measuring the deterioration of the second seal member placed in such a second environment, the deterioration of the first seal member can be accurately estimated without causing leakage of the first fluid while the equipment using the first seal member is operating. For example, to make the heat or radiation levels the same or equivalent in the first and second environments, the distances from the heat source or radioactive material to the first and second seal members can be made the same or equivalent. Furthermore, when the oxygen concentrations are to be the same or equivalent, the oxygen concentrations of the gas and / or gases that the first seal member and the second seal member come into contact with may be made the same or equivalent.

[0118] Even if the first and second environments are defined by the same type of deterioration factor, if the deterioration factor in the second environment is adjusted so that the deterioration rate in the second environment is faster than the deterioration rate in the first environment, the second seal member will deteriorate faster than the first seal member. In this case, if the deterioration rate of the first seal member is estimated from the deterioration rate of the second seal member, there is a high possibility that the first seal member will be replaced earlier than its actual lifespan. However, even if this result occurs, there is an advantage in that it can prevent problems caused by damage to the first seal member.

[0119] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those including all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, or to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Furthermore, it is possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with other configurations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0120] 1...equipment, 11...first fluid, 14...first seal member, 2,202, 302...seal member deterioration measuring device, 21...second seal member, 23...pressure adding device, 26, 226...second fluid, 323...pressure adjusting device, P1in, P1out, P2in, P2out, P22in, P22out, P32in, P32out...pressure

Claims

1. a second seal member that is the same as or equivalent in material and size to the first seal member that seals the first fluid in the first environment and that seals the second fluid in the second environment; The first fluid and the second fluid have independent flow paths, The sealing member deterioration measuring device is characterized in that the second environment is an environment that simulates the first environment so that the deterioration rate of the sealing member is equal to or greater than that of the first environment.

2. The seal member deterioration measuring device according to claim 1, A sealing member deterioration measurement device characterized in that the second environment is set so that at least one of the oxygen concentration, heat amount, radiation amount, and pressure from surrounding structures and the second fluid acting on the second sealing member is equal to or greater than that of the first environment.

3. 3. The seal member deterioration measuring device according to claim 2, A seal member deterioration measuring device, characterized in that the structure around the second seal member is the same as or equivalent to the structure around the first seal member.

4. 3. The seal member deterioration measuring device according to claim 2, A seal member deterioration measuring device comprising: a pressure applying device that applies a pressure to the second seal member that is equal to or greater than the pressure applied to the first seal member.

5. The seal member deterioration measuring device according to claim 4, The pressure application device is provided on the outer periphery of the second seal member and applies pressure to the second seal member toward the center of the second seal member.

6. 3. The seal member deterioration measuring device according to claim 2, The second seal member is located at a distance from a heat source or a radiation source equal to or closer to that of the first seal member.

7. 3. The seal member deterioration measuring device according to claim 2, The seal member deterioration measuring device is characterized in that the second fluid has the same components and temperature as the first fluid, or has equivalent components and temperature to the first fluid.

8. 3. The seal member deterioration measuring device according to claim 2, 10. A seal member deterioration measuring device, further comprising a pressure adjusting device for adjusting the pressure of the second fluid to be equal to or higher than the pressure of the first fluid.

9. A method for measuring deterioration of a seal member, comprising: placing a second seal member, which is made of the same or equivalent material and dimensions as a first seal member that seals a first fluid, and which seals a second fluid whose flow path is independent of that of the first fluid, in a second environment that simulates the first environment in which the first seal member is placed so that the rate of deterioration of the seal member is equal to or greater than that of the first environment in which the first seal member is placed; and measuring the amount of deterioration of the second seal member to estimate the deterioration of the first seal member.

Images