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U.S. Department of Energy
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Correlation of temperature with steam generator tube corrosion experience

Conference ·
OSTI ID:48097
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Dominion Engineering, Inc., McLean, VA (United States)
  2. Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA (United States)

Tube degradation data for operating steam generators were gathered and analyzed to determine the relationship between the operating temperature of the steam generator and the amount of tube degradation it has experienced. Three categories of hot leg corrosion tube degradation were investigated. These were: primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) at standard roll transitions; intergranular attack/stress corrosion cracking (IGA/SCC) at tube supports - secondary side initiation; and IGA/SCC for all hot leg locations (including tube supports) - secondary side initiation. The results of the evaluations of steam generators with high temperature mill annealed (HTMA) tubing were not conclusive. This is possibly a result of the small number of plants in this group. The results of the evaluations of steam generators with low temperature mill annealed (LTMA) tubing indicate that increasing rates of tube degradation correlate with increasing temperature, i.e., that there is a tendency toward increased levels of tube degradation as the hot leg temperature is increased. This was the case for both primary and secondary side corrosion.

OSTI ID:
48097
Report Number(s):
CONF-910808--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English