Constraints on boiling water reactor piping system inspection, mitigation, repair and replacement
Since the discovery of Intergranular Stess Corrosion Cracking (IGSCC) in large diameter 304 stainless steel piping in the reactor recirculation system at Unit 1 of Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation's Nine Mile Point Station in the spring of 1982, the detection, mitigation and repair of IGSCC type cracking has been a major focus of the US BWR industry. IGSCC has already caused the extended shutdown of six plants to replace piping systems with new, crack resistant material. US BWR owners have spent tens of millions of dollars conducting extensive inspection and reinspection programs, in the development and application of mitigation methods and the implementation of repair procedures. As a result of the high cost of unplanned and extended outrage time and the wide-spread nature of the problem, the body of papers, studies, procedures and data related to the IGSCC issue has grown rapidly. In addition, the approached utilized at individual utilities have varied widely based on the specific circumstances in existence at the time the IGSCC inspection, mitigation, repair or replacement program had to be implemented. This report is intended as a ''snapshot'' view of current industry technology and experience. It is based on information obtained through a series of interviews with key utility personnel involved in the IGSCC issue at all operating BWR plants and certain plants under construction. The information gathered in this manner has been combined with a comprehensive literature review. The major areas of the IGSCC issue are addressed: inspection, mitigation, repair and replacement.
- Research Organization:
- Nuclear Energy Services, Inc., Danbury, CT (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 7157274
- Report Number(s):
- AIF/NESP-038; ON: TI87900250
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
210100* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Boiling Water Cooled
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360103 -- Metals & Alloys-- Mechanical Properties
ALLOYS
BWR TYPE REACTORS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CHROMIUM STEELS
CHROMIUM-NICKEL STEELS
COOLING SYSTEMS
CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS
CRACK PROPAGATION
CRACKS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
HEAT RESISTANT MATERIALS
HEAT RESISTING ALLOYS
INSPECTION
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MATERIALS
MITIGATION
NICKEL ALLOYS
NORTH AMERICA
PIPES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTORS
REPAIR
STAINLESS STEEL-304
STAINLESS STEELS
STEELS
USA
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS