skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Boiling Water Reactor feedwater nozzle/sparger. Interim program report

Abstract

Several distinct problems have been experienced with the feedwater nozzle and sparger in BWR's. Sparger arm cracking, sparger flow hole cracking, sparger intergranular stress corrosion, and nozzle blend radius and bore cracking have been observed in various operating BWR's. Cracks in the nozzle are believed to be initiated by high cycle fatigue caused by cold feedwater and hot reactor water mixing and exposing the metal surface to rapid water temperature fluctuations. Once initiated the cracks may continue to grow as a result of reactor pressure and feedwater system temperature and flow fluctuations. An analytical treatment of this hypothesis is presented. A comprehensive test program to verify this hypothesis as well as to provide data for solutions to eliminate cracks are detailed. Solutions being considered are feedwater spargers with interference fit, spargers welded to the nozzle safe-end, cladding removal, and system changes to increase the minimum temperature of cold water through the spargers.

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
General Electric Co., San Jose, Calif. (USA). BWR Projects Dept.
OSTI Identifier:
5027347
Report Number(s):
NEDO-21480
TRN: 12-009067
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions of document are illegible
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; BWR TYPE REACTORS; PRIMARY COOLANT CIRCUITS; NOZZLES; CRACKS; FATIGUE; CONFIGURATION; FEEDWATER; STRESS CORROSION; TESTING; THERMAL STRESSES; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; COOLING SYSTEMS; CORROSION; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; MECHANICAL PROPERTIES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; REACTOR COMPONENTS; REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS; REACTORS; STRESSES; WATER; WATER COOLED REACTORS; WATER MODERATED REACTORS; 210100* - Power Reactors, Nonbreeding, Light-Water Moderated, Boiling Water Cooled

Citation Formats

Fife, A B, Kobsa, I R, Riccardella, P C, and Watanabe, H T. Boiling Water Reactor feedwater nozzle/sparger. Interim program report. United States: N. p., 1977. Web.
Fife, A B, Kobsa, I R, Riccardella, P C, & Watanabe, H T. Boiling Water Reactor feedwater nozzle/sparger. Interim program report. United States.
Fife, A B, Kobsa, I R, Riccardella, P C, and Watanabe, H T. 1977. "Boiling Water Reactor feedwater nozzle/sparger. Interim program report". United States.
@article{osti_5027347,
title = {Boiling Water Reactor feedwater nozzle/sparger. Interim program report},
author = {Fife, A B and Kobsa, I R and Riccardella, P C and Watanabe, H T},
abstractNote = {Several distinct problems have been experienced with the feedwater nozzle and sparger in BWR's. Sparger arm cracking, sparger flow hole cracking, sparger intergranular stress corrosion, and nozzle blend radius and bore cracking have been observed in various operating BWR's. Cracks in the nozzle are believed to be initiated by high cycle fatigue caused by cold feedwater and hot reactor water mixing and exposing the metal surface to rapid water temperature fluctuations. Once initiated the cracks may continue to grow as a result of reactor pressure and feedwater system temperature and flow fluctuations. An analytical treatment of this hypothesis is presented. A comprehensive test program to verify this hypothesis as well as to provide data for solutions to eliminate cracks are detailed. Solutions being considered are feedwater spargers with interference fit, spargers welded to the nozzle safe-end, cladding removal, and system changes to increase the minimum temperature of cold water through the spargers.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5027347}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1977},
month = {Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1977}
}

Technical Report:
Other availability
Please see Document Availability for additional information on obtaining the full-text document. Library patrons may search WorldCat to identify libraries that may hold this item. Keep in mind that many technical reports are not cataloged in WorldCat.

Save / Share: