Prevention of stress corrosion cracking in piping welds

Erkki Muttilainen, Ossi Hietanen, Pentti Aaltonen, Ulla Ehrnsten

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference article in proceedingsScientificpeer-review

    Abstract

    Stress corrosion cracking in piping welds in boiling water reactors (BWR's) has been observed in stainless steels as well as in low alloyed ferritic steels. Cracks in welded austenitic stainless steel piping in BWR's have been a serious problem in early operational years of nuclear power plants. Intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) incidents of large diameter pipes have had an impact on plant availability and economics and defects are considered also as a safety hazard. The number of welds in connection to large diameter pipes is about 250 per unit, with a large wall thickness, about 30 mm in average, making inspection requirements stringent. SCC has been concentrated in the same systems in the power plants all over the world, namely reactor water cleanup systems, core spray and all lines of main re-circulation lines operating at high temperatures. In order to evaluate the rate of failures and the related safety risk, cracking mechanisms effective in different materials have been analysed and remedial actions have been evaluated.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationPlant Life Management
    Subtitle of host publicationMidterm status of a R&D project
    Place of PublicationEspoo
    PublisherVTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
    Pages159-168
    ISBN (Electronic)951-38-5728-X
    ISBN (Print)951-38-5727-1
    Publication statusPublished - 2001
    MoE publication typeA4 Article in a conference publication
    EventPlant Life Management: Midterm status of a R&D project - Espoo, Finland
    Duration: 1 Jan 20011 Jan 2001

    Publication series

    SeriesVTT Symposium
    Number218
    ISSN0357-9387

    Conference

    ConferencePlant Life Management
    Country/TerritoryFinland
    CityEspoo
    Period1/01/011/01/01

    Keywords

    • welding

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