BFN is the only one we have tested new ones and only because they are outside the 12 month window as outlines in our TRM. We had to test 8 this year and no issues. We have had some fail after installed for only one year. NTS attributes it to a new coating they are using on the PSA ones. These are also all ones that are in our harshest environment and on a 2-3 RFO replacement so not sure if it is that or the snubber. These are tested on the NTS/Element benches.

Do you test your snubbers at your site, on your test bench, prior to installation?
Yes within 60 days of installation
Have the test results been satisfactory?
Yes, both new/rebuilt and rebuilt from the warehouse shelf (controlled environment) for a couple of years.

Has any site had recent issues with new snubbers from the manufacturer failing functional tests prior to installation, or their first test after install?
Several new snubbers are very close to minimal acceptance criteria range, i.e. 6-10 ipm and As Found New would be close to 6.0 new and this outage one snubber after 2 outages was 5.96 ipm which is an acceptance criteria failure.

What percentage of new snubbers tested have you had issues with?
Only recently in three years on new snubbers.

What test bench was used? Barker-Diacon

Nate Frank
AEP – DC Cook

Nate, we haven’t bought new hydraulics in the past couple of outages so no testing of new ones. As stated above a I had a couple fail the next outage for testing, but none that were tested prior to installation. Bench was NTS.
For WBN we have had to test some that weren’t within 18 months of test that were on the shelf. No issues either. Barker -Diacon bench for these or Mark Hase.