Leak suppression at steam generator man-, hand-, and eyeholes
Plant unavailability associated with primary and secondary holes is approximately the same as that caused by steam generator tube defects, i.e., 0.5%. Problems encountered with steam generator man-, hand-, and eyeholes during plant operation have led Electricite de France (EdF) and Framatome to improve hole seal design and to develop robots for closing and cleaning them. The data base available in France in this field on some 150 steam generators in 900- and 1300-MW(electric) pressurized water reactors (the equivalent of 300 reactor-yr of operation) has been the base of the developments described in this paper. Incidents occurring in operation primarily concern had-and inspection holes located on the steam generator's secondary side. They include four kinds: (1) leakage detected in operation, requiring forced outages, (2) leakage detected during plant restart after a scheduled shutdown and resulting in a restart delay, (3) pitting of seal mating surfaces, not inducing any leakage but jeopardizing subsequent compliance and requiring difficult and costly repairs, and (4) seizing of screws or bolts. New primary and secondary hole stud tightening and maintenance machines help to improve the efficiency of the in-service closing operations. They provide savings of up to 80% on labor, duration of operations, and exposure.
- OSTI ID:
- 5433958
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-881011-; CODEN: TANSA; TRN: 89-029360
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA), Vol. 57; Conference: Joint meeting of the European Nuclear Society and the American Nuclear Society, Washington, DC (USA), 30 Oct - 4 Nov 1988; ISSN 0003-018X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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