Thermodynamic consideration of hydrogen injection in BWR coolant. Estimation of potential for SCC control and oxidation-reduction condition of reactor coolant

Hydrogen injection into BWR coolant has been carried out in order to reduce stress corrosion cracking (SCC). It was clarified by in-plant test that SCC can be reduced under corrosion potential -0.23 V(v.s.SHE), but the theoretical basis has not been clarified. On the other hand, highly precise water quality analysis of re-circulatory-system water is generally performed. Especially, nitrogen compound changes chemical from to NO3- -> NO2- -> NH3, and the NH3 becomes the cause of the increase of dose rate of the main steamy system in connection with the increase in the amount of hydrogen injection. However, the relation between this chemical form, oxidisation reduction potential, and temperature is not clear: Then, in this paper, these two points were considered by thermodynamics calculation at 25-300degC using the thermodynamics data in the high temperature accumulated in CRIEPI, and calculation results are summarized as follows; (1) the potential of the stainless steel to which the chemical form change to FeCr2O4 from NiFe2O4 is equilibrium is about -0.23 V at 288degC so this change is expected as one of factors for reduction of SCC, (2) the changes of chemical form of nitrogen compounds show oxidation-reduction of reactor coolant, so it can be useful as the index for control of dose rate. (author)