Burt Browning

Burt Browning, Lead Mechanical & Civil Engineer at Duke Energy Corporation, played a pivotal role in the successful deployment of the ECR® 12000 at a critical nuclear power generation plant. Since being put into service in January 2024, the results have been nothing short of remarkable. Just eight weeks after installation, the unit’s performance exceeded expectations, demonstrating the substantial impact of this technology.

Problem: The EHC fluid within the turbine control system exhibited contamination; however, all standard oil tests indicated results categorized as “good,” which proved to be misleading. The underlying issue was the presence of varnish formation and varnish precursors in the fluid, leading to the sticking of the quadvoter. This matter is particularly serious, as a malfunction of the quadvoter may result in a turbine trip, which could subsequently lead to a trip of the nuclear reactor, thereby creating significant operational and safety concerns.

The team encountered difficulties as standard testing methods failed to identify the root cause of the issue, resulting in the plant’s inability to pass critical operational tests related to the turbine controls. Given the pressing need to find a resolution due to the elevated risks to plant reliability and safety, prompt action was essential to effectively address these challenges.

Solution: Burt discovered EPT Clean Oil by researching white papers published in collaboration with EPRI. This research led to the implementation of a solution that significantly improved the oil system’s reliability.

Results: Over the course of 8 weeks, significant results were achieved, including a 99% reduction in varnish levels, an 82% reduction in varnish precursors (phenols), and a 93% reduction in patch weight contamination. Additionally, moisture and resistivity were brought back into specification, and the turbine controls stabilized, eliminating the sticking quadvoter issue.