Apparatus and method for limiting and analyzing stress corrosion cracking in pressurized water reactors
First Claim
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1. A method to evaluate an effect of applying a zinc compound to a reactor coolant system of a pressurized water reactor, comprising:
- quantitatively assessing a pressurized water reactor stress corrosion cracking initiation rate of a candidate system through analysis of operational eddy current testing data and pressurized water stress corrosion cracking failure history using empirical relationships;
determining an extent of damage to the candidate system;
approximating when zinc addition to the system will mitigate pressurized water stress corrosion cracking;
quantitatively assessing pressurized water stress corrosion cracking initiation benefit for high-concentration (≧
10 ppb) and low-concentration (<
10 ppb) zinc addition programs; and
calculating a pressurized water reactor stress corrosion cracking initiation benefit from zinc addition at low concentrations (<
10 ppb) in the reactor coolant system.
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Abstract
A method to assess and predict pressurized water stress corrosion cracking in operational nuclear power plants and the effect of adding zinc compounds into a reactor coolant system of the nuclear power plant.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method to evaluate an effect of applying a zinc compound to a reactor coolant system of a pressurized water reactor, comprising:
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quantitatively assessing a pressurized water reactor stress corrosion cracking initiation rate of a candidate system through analysis of operational eddy current testing data and pressurized water stress corrosion cracking failure history using empirical relationships;
determining an extent of damage to the candidate system;
approximating when zinc addition to the system will mitigate pressurized water stress corrosion cracking;
quantitatively assessing pressurized water stress corrosion cracking initiation benefit for high-concentration (≧
10 ppb) and low-concentration (<
10 ppb) zinc addition programs; and
calculating a pressurized water reactor stress corrosion cracking initiation benefit from zinc addition at low concentrations (<
10 ppb) in the reactor coolant system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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3. A method of controlling pressurized water reactor stress corrosion cracking, comprising:
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providing a zinc injection system;
determining a need for mitigation of pressurized water reactor stress corrosion cracking; and
injecting zinc into the pressurized water reactor coolant, above the solubility of zinc chromate and below 10 parts per billion, the injection of zinc reducing an incidence of pressurized water reactor stress corrosion cracking.
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Specification