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Title: Boric acid corrosion of carbon and low alloy steels

Abstract

Leakage of borated water from the reactor coolant system of pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and the resulting corrosion of carbon and low alloy steel components are concerns that have been addressed by utilities for many years. Significant corrosion has been observed in instances where such leakage has gone undetected for several months. In 1990, the B and W Owners Group (B and WOG) sponsored a test program to determine the levels of wastage that are possible when primary water leakage occurs. In this test program, carbon and stainless steel specimens were exposed to borated water at temperatures from 300 F to 550 F. Initial boric acid concentration was controlled within the limits of 13,000 to 15,000 ppm (as H{sub 3}BO{sub 3}) with 1.0--2.0 ppm lithium (as LiOH) added to duplicate the primary water chemistry. Testing was performed to determine the degree of attack caused by a leak traveling along a pipe both with and without insulation. These tests show the importance of temperature and boric acid concentrations on the wastage that can occur from such a leak.

Authors:
;  [1];  [2]
  1. B and W Nuclear Technologies, Lynchburg, VA (United States)
  2. Babcock and Wilcox, Alliance, OH (United States). Research and Development Division
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
70099
Report Number(s):
CONF-940222-
TRN: IM9529%%438
Resource Type:
Book
Resource Relation:
Conference: Corrosion 94: National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) international annual conference, Baltimore, MD (United States), 28 Feb - 4 Mar 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of Corrosion/94 conference papers; PB: 5005 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
21 NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; CARBON STEELS; CORROSION; LOW ALLOY STEELS; BORIC ACID; CORROSIVE EFFECTS; PWR TYPE REACTORS; PRIMARY COOLANT CIRCUITS; WATER CHEMISTRY; LEAKS; ARKANSAS-1 REACTOR; TURKEY POINT-4 REACTOR; COMPILED DATA

Citation Formats

Campbell, C A, Fyfitch, S, and Martin, D T. Boric acid corrosion of carbon and low alloy steels. United States: N. p., 1994. Web.
Campbell, C A, Fyfitch, S, & Martin, D T. Boric acid corrosion of carbon and low alloy steels. United States.
Campbell, C A, Fyfitch, S, and Martin, D T. 1994. "Boric acid corrosion of carbon and low alloy steels". United States.
@article{osti_70099,
title = {Boric acid corrosion of carbon and low alloy steels},
author = {Campbell, C A and Fyfitch, S and Martin, D T},
abstractNote = {Leakage of borated water from the reactor coolant system of pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and the resulting corrosion of carbon and low alloy steel components are concerns that have been addressed by utilities for many years. Significant corrosion has been observed in instances where such leakage has gone undetected for several months. In 1990, the B and W Owners Group (B and WOG) sponsored a test program to determine the levels of wastage that are possible when primary water leakage occurs. In this test program, carbon and stainless steel specimens were exposed to borated water at temperatures from 300 F to 550 F. Initial boric acid concentration was controlled within the limits of 13,000 to 15,000 ppm (as H{sub 3}BO{sub 3}) with 1.0--2.0 ppm lithium (as LiOH) added to duplicate the primary water chemistry. Testing was performed to determine the degree of attack caused by a leak traveling along a pipe both with and without insulation. These tests show the importance of temperature and boric acid concentrations on the wastage that can occur from such a leak.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/70099}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1994},
month = {Sat Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1994}
}

Book:
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