Precise Evaluation of Corrosion Environments of Structural Materials under Complex Water Flow Condition, (I)

Abstract

To estimate the corrosion potentials of structural materials under complex water flow condition, such as reactor pressure vessel (RPV) bottom region of Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs), a method was newly developed. Three-dimensional water flow analysis was performed and corrosion potentials of structural materials were calculated on the basis of the flow analysis results. Water flow analysis showed the velocities in the RPV bottom region varied from about 0.1 ms^-1 to 4.5 ms^-1. From the corrosion potential estimation under hydrogen water chemistry (HWC) condition, at the jet pump outlet and shroud support leg, a rather large amount of hydrogen had to be added to reduce the potential because of high flow velocity condition. Conversely, a small amount of hydrogen was sufficient in the case of the stub tube of the control rod drive (CRD) guide tubing located in the center of the bottom region.

KEYWORDS:

• BWR type reactors
• corrosion potential
• hydrogen water chemistry
• IGSCC
• flow analysis
• water radiolysis