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U.S. Department of Energy
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Oxygen suppression in boiling water reactors. Quarterly report 2, January 1--March 31, 1978

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6442464· OSTI ID:6442464

Boiling water reactors (BWR's) generally use high purity, no-additive feedwater. Primary recirculating coolant is neutral pH, and contains 100 to 300 ppB oxygen and stoichiometrically related dissolved hydrogen. However, oxygenated water increases austenitic stainless steel susceptibility to intergranular stress-corrosion cracking (IGSCC) when other requisite factors such as stress and sensitization are present. Thus, reduction or elimination of the oxygen in BWR water may preclude cracking incidents. One approach to reduction of the BWR coolant oxygen concentration is to adopt alternate water chemistry (AWC) conditions using an additive(s) to suppress or reverse radiolytic oxygen formation. Several additives are available to do this but they have seen only limited and specialized application in BWR's. The objective of this program is to perform an in-depth engineering evaluation of the potential suppression additives supported by critical experiments where required to resolve substantive uncertainties.

Research Organization:
General Electric Co., San Jose, CA (USA). Nuclear Energy Div.
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-02-2985
OSTI ID:
6442464
Report Number(s):
COO-2985-22; NEDC-23856-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English