Summary of operating experience with recirculating steam generators. [PWR]

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:6415736

Eisenhut, D G; Liaw, B D; Strosnider, J

Operating problems have occurred in the steam generators of each of the three manufacturers of pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear steam supply systems (NSSS): Babcock and Wilcox, Combustion Engineering, and Westinghouse Electric Corporation. The report focuses on the problems associated with steam generators of the recirculation type that are designed by Westinghouse and Combustion Engineering. It identifies the operational problems observed to date, including the NRC staff's evaluation of such problems, and provides a status report summarizing the NSSS, licensee, and staff programs for the resolution of each problem. (Figure 1 shows the major types of degradation for recirculation type steam generators.) Information related to the cause of these problems is discussed to the extent that such information is known and available. It should be noted that a number of research efforts related to these problems are currently under way. Therefore, some of the causal information included in this summary represents our current understanding of each issue. For those who are not completely familiar with PWRs, Appendix A briefly describes the functions of the various coolant systems of pressurized water reactors.

• Research Organization: Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (USA). Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
• OSTI ID: 6415736
• Report Number(s): NUREG-0523
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210200* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled
BOILERS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CORROSION
FAILURES
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTORS
STEAM GENERATORS
TUBES
VAPOR GENERATORS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS