Nuclear component wear measurements

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983 · Nucl. Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7144551

Bufrane, K F; Naughton, M D

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, 505 King Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43201
• OSTI ID: 7144551
• Journal Information: Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 63:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
BWR TYPE REACTORS
PUMPS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTOR MATERIALS
WEAR
PWR TYPE REACTORS
ACTIVITY LEVELS
BUILDUP
COBALT 60
CORROSION
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
RADIOACTIVITY
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COBALT ISOTOPES
COOLING SYSTEMS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
210200* - Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled
210100 - Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Boiling Water Cooled