Published 1990 | Version v1
Book

Stress corrosion of valves in primary coolant circuit dead legs

  • 1. Electricite de France (EDF), 75 - Paris (France)
  • 2. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 94 - Vitry-sur-Seine (France). Centre d'Etudes de Chimie Metallurgique

Description

Many cases of corrosion have been observed along lines corresponding to a water/steam interface in valve components and adjacent portions of pipes; they are located in portions of auxiliary circuit, called dead legs, connected to the main primary loops of pressurized water reactors. A pronounced attack of the Stellite coating on the bearing surface is observed, together with cracking in the stainless steel, mostly transgranular. Laboratory investigations were performed, including autoclave tests on U-bend specimens at 250 and 2900C in concentrated boric acid solutions, and constant load tests at boiling point of these solutions. They allowed to reproduce the cracking phenomena, and to confirm the influence of pH, chlorides, and boric acid. The particular thermohydraulic and chemical conditions occurring in the dead legs can explain the cracking cases observed

Abstract (French)

De nombreux cas de corrosion ont ete observes sur des vannes, des clapets ainsi que sur les portions de tubulures adjacentes a ceux-ci, le long de lignes de niveau correspondant a une interface eau-vapeur; ils se produisent dans des portions de circuits auxiliaires du circuit primaire de reacteurs a eau pressurisee, appelees bras morts. Une attaque marquee du revetement en Stellite des surfaces d'etancheite se produit, souvent associee a une fissuration de l'acier inoxydable, generalement transgranulaire. Des etudes en laboratoire ont ete effectuees. Elles ont comporte des essais a deformation imposee en autoclave, dans des solutions concentrees d'acide borique a 250 et 2900C, ainsi que des essais a charge imposee dans ces solutions a ebullition. Elles ont permis de reproduire les phenomenes de fissuration et de confirmer l'influence du pH, des chlorures et de l'acide borique. Les conditions thermohydrauliques et chimiques particulieres rencontrees dans les bras morts peuvent expliquer les cas de fissuration rencontres
Part of:
Contribution of materials investigation to the Resolution of problems encountered in PWR Plants. Volume 2

Additional details

Additional titles

Original title (French)
Corrosion sous contrainte de pieces de robinetterie dans les bras morts du circuit primaire

Publishing Information

Publisher
Societe Francaise d'Energie Nucleaire.
Imprint Place
Paris (France)
Imprint Title
Contribution of Materials Investigation to the Resolution of problems encountered in PWR Plants. Volume 2
Imprint Pagination
305 p.
Journal Page Range
p. 547-557.

Conference

Title
International Colloquium on Contribution of materials Investigation to the Resolution of Problems Encountered in PWR Plants.
Original Conference Title
Colloque International sur la Contribution des Expertises sur materiaux a la resolution des problemes rencontres dans les REP
Dates
10-14 Sep 1990.
Place
Fontevraud (France).

Optional Information

Notes
Imprint:Contribution des Expertises sur materiaux a la Resolution des problemes rencontres dans les REP. Volume 2.