Spanish approach to research and development applied to steam generator tubes structural integrity and life management

Conference · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:467908

Lozano, J ^[1]; Bollini, G J

---

1. Associacion Nuclear Asco AIE, Barcelona (Spain)

The operating experience acquired from certain Spanish Nuclear Power Plant steam generators shows that the tubes, which constitute the second barrier to release of fission products, are susceptible to mechanical damage and corrosion as a result of a variety of mechanisms, among them wastage, pitting, intergranular attack (IGA), stress-corrosion cracking (SCC), fatigue-induced cracking, fretting, erosion/corrosion, support plate denting, etc. These problems, which are common in many plants throughout the world, have required numerous investments by the plants (water treatment plants, replacement of secondary side materials such as condensers and heaters, etc.), have meant costs (operation, inspection and maintenance) and have led to the unavailability of the affected units. In identifying and implementing all these preventive and corrective measures, the Spanish utilities have moved through three successive stages: in the initial stage, the main source of information and of proposals for solutions was the Plant Vendor, whose participation in this respect was based on his own Research and Development programs; subsequently, the Spanish utilities participated jointly in the EPRI Steam Generator Owners Group, collaborating in financing; finally, the Spanish utilities set up their own Steam Generator Research and Development program, while maintaining relations with EPRI programs and those of other countries through information interchange.

• Research Organization: CH2M Hill, Gainesville, FL (United States); Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
• OSTI ID: 467908
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CP--0154; ANL--96/14; NEA/CNRA/R--(96)1; CONF-9510423--; ON: TI97004312
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
CORROSION
DEFECTS
MAINTENANCE
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
PWR TYPE REACTORS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SPAIN
STEAM GENERATORS
TUBES