Nuclear component wear measurements
Cobalt-60 has been identified as the principal isotope responsible for the buildup of radiation in light water reactors. The /sup 60/Co is produced from stable cobalt being released to the coolant and becoming activated to /sup 60/Co during residence in the core. The release occurs because of the corrosion and wear of cobalt-containing alloys exposed to the coolant. This study was directed toward measuring the cobalt released by wear of cobalt-based alloys. Plastic replicas were made of worn components during maintenance outages. Subsequent profilometer measurements were made on the replicas using nearby unworn areas as reference surfaces to enable a calculation of the cobalt released by wear. The calculated release rates on a variety of seven components were estimated from 0.04 g/yr for a main coolant pump on a pressurized water reactor to 30 g/yr for a feedwater regulator valve on a boiling water reactor.
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Columbus Laboratories, Columbus, OH
- OSTI ID:
- 6330084
- Journal Information:
- Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 62:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Wear measurements of nuclear power plant components. Final report
Nuclear-component wear measurements. Final report. [PWR; BWR]
Related Subjects
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
COBALT 60
BUILDUP
REACTOR COMPONENTS
WEAR
WATER COOLED REACTORS
COBALT
COBALT ALLOYS
CORROSION
INSPECTION
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
ALLOYS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COBALT ISOTOPES
COOLING SYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
METALS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTORS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety
210100 - Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Boiling Water Cooled
210200 - Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled