Cost-benefit analysis of backfitting makeup degasifiers to existing PWRs

Feedwater oxygen is one of the major causes of steam generator corrosion in pressurized water reactor (PWR) power plants. Dissolved oxygen in condensate makeup water can be a major source of oxygen in the condensate. The condensate oxygen level can be reduced up to 12 to 16 times by degasifying the makeup water. The before-tax net present value to backfit a vacuum degasifier system at an operating plant is approximately $1.8 x 106. The benefit associated with this backfit in terms of reduced potential for forced outages caused by steam generator tube denting and ultimately steam generator replacement can be worth up to several hundred million dollars