The annal of british RPV steel plates for first nuclear power station in Japan (1). Unforseen accidents araised before nuclear power plant open

This article described the author's experiences of reactor vessel steel plates for the first nuclear power station, Tokai-mura reactor. The station is an advanced Calder Hall type. The electrical output is 166 MWe. The reactor vessel was spherical with internal diameter of 189 cm and wall thickness of 83 mm. Material was a fine-grain, aluminum-killed steel. Each part of pressure vessel, bottom cap, belt 1, 2, 3, 4 and top cap, were prefabricated with welding of plates, then lifted into the reactor building and assembled with welding. Steel plates were imported from UK, press formed to spherical segments in Japan and transferred to the site. Ultrasonic testing, magnetic particle testing of groove face (crack detection), sizing of groove and sulfur print tests were performed as an on-site acceptance testing. Inclusions and lamination openings were observed at groove faces due to gas flame cutting. White spot was observed at rupture face of tensile test specimen. At the liquid penetration testing after back gauging of extra seam, a crack-like indication with length of less than 3 mm was observed. Reexamination of groove face by magnetic particles testing showed indications of inclusion cloud or alumina cloud. These would be cracks caused by hydrogen embrittlement. (T. Tanaka)