A number of piping components in the secondary system of nuclear power plants are exposed to aging mechanisms such as FAC (Flow-Accelerated Corrosion), cavitation, flashing, SPE (Solid Particle Erosion), LDIE (Liquid ...A number of piping components in the secondary system of nuclear power plants are exposed to aging mechanisms such as FAC (Flow-Accelerated Corrosion), cavitation, flashing, SPE (Solid Particle Erosion), LDIE (Liquid Droplet Impingement Erosion), etc. Those mechanisms may lead to thinning, leak, or rupture of the components. Due to the pipe ruptures caused by wall thinning in Surry unit 2 of USA in 1986 and in Mihama unit 3 of Japan in 1994, the pipe wall thinning management has emerged as one of the most important issues in nuclear power plants. To manage the pipe wall thinning in the secondary system, Korea has used a foreign program since 1996. As using the foreign country’s program for long term, it was necessary to improve from the perspective of the users. Accordingly, KEPCO-E & C has started to develop the 3D-based pipe wall thinning management program (ToSPACE, Total Solution for Piping And Component Engineering management) from eight years ago, and the development was successful. This paper describes the major functions included in ToSPACE program, such as 3D-based DB (Database) buildup, development of FAC and erosion evaluation theories, UT (Ultra-sonic Test) data reliability analysis, field connection with 3D, automatic establishment of long-term inspection plan, etc. ToSPACE program was developed to allow site engineers performing the selection of inspection quantity at each refueling outage, UT data reliability analysis, UT evaluation, determination of next inspection timing, identification of the inspecting and replacing components in 3D drawings, etc., to access easily.展开更多
It has been known that FAC, LDIE, cavitation and flashing are the damage mechanisms that can cause the pipe thickness of the secondary system of nuclear power plants thinner. Severe wall thinning was found in the MSR ...It has been known that FAC, LDIE, cavitation and flashing are the damage mechanisms that can cause the pipe thickness of the secondary system of nuclear power plants thinner. Severe wall thinning was found in the MSR drain pipes at a Korean nuclear power plant a decade ago, and all the affected pipes were replaced with low alloy steel with higher chromium contents. Therefore, this study was conducted to reduce the possibility of similar thinning cases that may occur in the future by identifying the exact cause of thinning. ToSPACE and FLUENT codes and theoretical evaluation method were applied to analyze the causes of thinning. ToSPACE and FLUENT analyses and theoretical evaluation including all the operating conditions show a relatively large pressure drop and a pressure lower than the saturated vapor pressure in common at the end of the pipe entering the condenser. This means that flashing occurs at the end of the pipe under all operating conditions, and the effect can be greater than that of other parts. As a result, since severe wall thinning occurred at the end of the pipeline entering the condenser, it was evaluated that flashing by the high-velocity two-phase fluid was the direct cause of the wall thinning in the MSR drain pipes. The results of this study will contribute to establishing appropriate countermeasures in the event of pipe wall thinning in the future.展开更多
A number of piping components in the secondary system of nuclear power plants (NPPs) have been exposed to aging mechanisms such as FAC (Flow-Accelerated Corrosion), cavitation, flashing, LDIE (Liquid Droplet Impingeme...A number of piping components in the secondary system of nuclear power plants (NPPs) have been exposed to aging mechanisms such as FAC (Flow-Accelerated Corrosion), cavitation, flashing, LDIE (Liquid Droplet Impingement Erosion), and SPE (Solid Particle Erosion). Those mechanisms may lead to thinning, leaking, or the rupture of components. Due to the pipe ruptures caused by wall thinning of Surry Unit 2 in 1986 and Mihama Unit 3 in 2004, pipe wall thinning management has emerged as one of the most important issues in the nuclear industry. To manage the wall thinning of pipes caused by FAC and erosion, KEPCO-E & C has developed ToSPACE program. It can predict both FAC & erosion phenomena, and also be utilized in the pipe wall thinning management works such as susceptibility analysis, UT (Ultrasonic Test) data evaluation as well as establishment of long-term inspection plan. Even though the ToSPACE can predict the five aging mechanisms mentioned above, only the FAC prediction result using ToSPACE was compared herein with the experimental result using FACTS (Flow Accelerated Corrosion Test System) to verify the ToSPACE’s capability. In addition, the FAC prediction result using ToSPACE was also compared with that of CHECWORKS that is widely used all over the world.展开更多
Recently, damage caused by liquid droplet impingement erosion (LDIE) in addition to flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC) has frequently occurred in the secondary side steam piping of nuclear power plants, and the damage-o...Recently, damage caused by liquid droplet impingement erosion (LDIE) in addition to flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC) has frequently occurred in the secondary side steam piping of nuclear power plants, and the damage-occurring frequency is expected to increase as their operating years’ increase. In order to scrutinize its causes, therefore, an experimental study was conducted to understand how the behavior of LDIE-FAC multiple degradation changes when the piping of nuclear power plants is operated for a long time. Experimental results show that more magnetite was formed on the surface of the carbon steel specimen than on the low-alloy steel specimen, and that the rate of magnetite formation and extinction reached equilibrium due to the complex action of liquid droplet impingement erosion and flow-accelerated corrosion after a certain period of time. Furthermore, it was confirmed at the beginning of the experiment that A106 Gr.B specimen has more mass loss than A335 P22 specimen. After a certain period of time, however, the mass loss tends to be the opposite. This is presumed to have resulted from the magnetite formed on the surface playing a role in suppressing liquid droplet impingement erosion. In addition, it was confirmed that the amount of erosion linearly increases under the conditions in which the formation and extinction of magnetite reach equilibrium.展开更多
文摘A number of piping components in the secondary system of nuclear power plants are exposed to aging mechanisms such as FAC (Flow-Accelerated Corrosion), cavitation, flashing, SPE (Solid Particle Erosion), LDIE (Liquid Droplet Impingement Erosion), etc. Those mechanisms may lead to thinning, leak, or rupture of the components. Due to the pipe ruptures caused by wall thinning in Surry unit 2 of USA in 1986 and in Mihama unit 3 of Japan in 1994, the pipe wall thinning management has emerged as one of the most important issues in nuclear power plants. To manage the pipe wall thinning in the secondary system, Korea has used a foreign program since 1996. As using the foreign country’s program for long term, it was necessary to improve from the perspective of the users. Accordingly, KEPCO-E & C has started to develop the 3D-based pipe wall thinning management program (ToSPACE, Total Solution for Piping And Component Engineering management) from eight years ago, and the development was successful. This paper describes the major functions included in ToSPACE program, such as 3D-based DB (Database) buildup, development of FAC and erosion evaluation theories, UT (Ultra-sonic Test) data reliability analysis, field connection with 3D, automatic establishment of long-term inspection plan, etc. ToSPACE program was developed to allow site engineers performing the selection of inspection quantity at each refueling outage, UT data reliability analysis, UT evaluation, determination of next inspection timing, identification of the inspecting and replacing components in 3D drawings, etc., to access easily.
文摘It has been known that FAC, LDIE, cavitation and flashing are the damage mechanisms that can cause the pipe thickness of the secondary system of nuclear power plants thinner. Severe wall thinning was found in the MSR drain pipes at a Korean nuclear power plant a decade ago, and all the affected pipes were replaced with low alloy steel with higher chromium contents. Therefore, this study was conducted to reduce the possibility of similar thinning cases that may occur in the future by identifying the exact cause of thinning. ToSPACE and FLUENT codes and theoretical evaluation method were applied to analyze the causes of thinning. ToSPACE and FLUENT analyses and theoretical evaluation including all the operating conditions show a relatively large pressure drop and a pressure lower than the saturated vapor pressure in common at the end of the pipe entering the condenser. This means that flashing occurs at the end of the pipe under all operating conditions, and the effect can be greater than that of other parts. As a result, since severe wall thinning occurred at the end of the pipeline entering the condenser, it was evaluated that flashing by the high-velocity two-phase fluid was the direct cause of the wall thinning in the MSR drain pipes. The results of this study will contribute to establishing appropriate countermeasures in the event of pipe wall thinning in the future.
文摘A number of piping components in the secondary system of nuclear power plants (NPPs) have been exposed to aging mechanisms such as FAC (Flow-Accelerated Corrosion), cavitation, flashing, LDIE (Liquid Droplet Impingement Erosion), and SPE (Solid Particle Erosion). Those mechanisms may lead to thinning, leaking, or the rupture of components. Due to the pipe ruptures caused by wall thinning of Surry Unit 2 in 1986 and Mihama Unit 3 in 2004, pipe wall thinning management has emerged as one of the most important issues in the nuclear industry. To manage the wall thinning of pipes caused by FAC and erosion, KEPCO-E & C has developed ToSPACE program. It can predict both FAC & erosion phenomena, and also be utilized in the pipe wall thinning management works such as susceptibility analysis, UT (Ultrasonic Test) data evaluation as well as establishment of long-term inspection plan. Even though the ToSPACE can predict the five aging mechanisms mentioned above, only the FAC prediction result using ToSPACE was compared herein with the experimental result using FACTS (Flow Accelerated Corrosion Test System) to verify the ToSPACE’s capability. In addition, the FAC prediction result using ToSPACE was also compared with that of CHECWORKS that is widely used all over the world.
文摘Recently, damage caused by liquid droplet impingement erosion (LDIE) in addition to flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC) has frequently occurred in the secondary side steam piping of nuclear power plants, and the damage-occurring frequency is expected to increase as their operating years’ increase. In order to scrutinize its causes, therefore, an experimental study was conducted to understand how the behavior of LDIE-FAC multiple degradation changes when the piping of nuclear power plants is operated for a long time. Experimental results show that more magnetite was formed on the surface of the carbon steel specimen than on the low-alloy steel specimen, and that the rate of magnetite formation and extinction reached equilibrium due to the complex action of liquid droplet impingement erosion and flow-accelerated corrosion after a certain period of time. Furthermore, it was confirmed at the beginning of the experiment that A106 Gr.B specimen has more mass loss than A335 P22 specimen. After a certain period of time, however, the mass loss tends to be the opposite. This is presumed to have resulted from the magnetite formed on the surface playing a role in suppressing liquid droplet impingement erosion. In addition, it was confirmed that the amount of erosion linearly increases under the conditions in which the formation and extinction of magnetite reach equilibrium.
