Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

The corrosion of aluminium alloy and release of intermetallic particles in nuclear reactor emergency core coolant: Implications for clogging of sump strainers

  • Huang, Junlin (UNB Nuclear Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Brunswick) ;
  • Lister, Derek (UNB Nuclear Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Brunswick) ;
  • Uchida, Shunsuke (Japan Atomic Energy Agency) ;
  • Liu, Lihui (UNB Nuclear Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Brunswick)
  • Received : 2018.12.11
  • Accepted : 2019.02.15
  • Published : 2019.06.25
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Clogging of sump strainers that filter the recirculation water in containment after a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) seriously impedes the continued cooling of nuclear reactor cores. In experiments examining the corrosion of aluminium alloy 6061, a common material in containment equipment, in borated solutions simulating the water chemistry of sump water after a LOCA, we found that Fe-bearing intermetallic particles, which were initially buried in the Al matrix, were progressively exposed as corrosion continued. Their cathodic nature $vis-{\grave{a}}-vis$ the Al matrix provoked continuous trenching around them until they were finally released into the test solution. Such particles released from Al alloy components in a reactor containment after a LOCA will be transported to the sump entrance with the recirculation flow and trapped by the debris bed that typically forms on the strainer surface, potentially aggravating strainer clogging. These Fe-bearing intermetallic particles, many of which had a rod or thin strip-like geometry, were identified to be mainly the cubic phase ${\alpha}_c-Al(Fe,Mn)Si$ with an average size of about $2.15{\mu}m$; 11.5 g of particles with a volume of about $3.2cm^3$ would be released with the dissolution of every 1 kg 6061 aluminium alloy.

Keywords

References

  1. S.H. Lee, K. Kim, H.J. Kim, Y.S. Eun, Analyses of SGTR accident with Mihama unit experience, J. Kor. Nucl. Soc. 26 (1994) 41-53.
  2. S.O. Yu, Y.J. Cho, S.J. Kim, Effect of emergency core cooling system flow reduction on channel temperature during recirculation phase of large break loss-of-coolant accident at Wolsong unit 1, Nucl. Eng. Tech. 49 (2017) 979-988. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2017.03.007
  3. D.V. Rao, C.J. Shaffer, R. Elliott, BWR ECCS Strainer Blockage Issue: Summary of Research and Resolution Actions, US NRC, 2001, pp. 1-148. LA-UR-01-1595.
  4. G.H. Hart, A short history of the sump clogging issue and analysis of the problem, Nucl. News 47 (2004) 24-34.
  5. H. Song, S.A. Park, M. Choi, J.Y. Park, M. Kim, J. Jung, Y.T. Kim, Examination of chemical and physical effects on sump screen clogging of containment materials used in Korean plants, Ann. Nucl. Energy 69 (2014) 51-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2014.01.027
  6. C.B. Bahn, K.E. Kasza, W.J. Shack, K. Natesan, P. Klein, Evaluation of precipitates used in strainer head loss testing; Part II. Precipitates by in situ aluminium alloy corrosion, Nucl. Eng. Des. 241 (2011) 1926-1936. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2011.01.004
  7. D.V. Rao, F.J. Souto, M.L. Marshall, A.W. Serkiz, Experimental Study of Head Loss and Filtration for LOCA Debris, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 1996, pp. 1-159. NUREG/CR-6367.
  8. C.B. Bahn, Chemical effects on PWR sump strainer blockage after a loss-of-coolant accident: review on U.S. research efforts, Nucl. Eng. Tech. 45 (2013) 295-310. https://doi.org/10.5516/NET.07.2013.705
  9. S. Lee, Y.A. Hassan, S.S. Abdulsattar, R. Vaghetto, Experimental study of head loss through an LOCA-generated fibrous bed deposited on a sump strainer for Generic Safety Issue 191, Prog. Nucl. Energy 74 (2014) 166-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2014.02.019
  10. D. LaBrier, B. Letellier, J. Gray, S. Wendt, E. Blandford, Assessment of an X-ray analysis system for investigating of fibrous debris bed formation on PWR sump strainer modules, Ann. Nucl. Energy 103 (2017) 393-401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2017.01.040
  11. M. Edwards, J. Semmler, D. Guzonas, H.Q. Chen, A. Toor, S. Hoendermis, Aluminium corrosion product release kinetics, Nucl. Eng. Des. 288 (2015) 163-174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2015.03.006
  12. S. Guo, J.J. Leavitt, X. Zhou, E. Lahti, J. Zhang, Corrosion of aluminium alloy 1100 in post-LOCA solutions of a nuclear reactor, RSC Adv. 6 (2016) 44119-44128. https://doi.org/10.1039/C6RA07440E
  13. J. Piippo, T. Laitinen, P. Sirkia, Corrosion Behaviour of Zinc and Aluminium in Simulated Nuclear Accident Environments, VTT Manufacturing Technology, 1997, pp. 1-30. STUK-YTO-TR-123.
  14. T.S. Andreychek, Test Plan: Characterization of Chemical and Corrosion Effects Potentially Occurring inside a PWR Containment Following a LOCA, Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, 2005, pp. 1-51.
  15. J. Dallman, B. Letellier, J. Garcia, J. Madrid, W. Roesch, D. Chen, K. Howe, L. Archuleta, F. Sciacca, B.P. Jain, Integrated Chemical Effects Test Project:Consolidated Data Report, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 2006, pp. 1-110. NUREG/CR-6914.
  16. A.E. Lane, T.S. Andreychek, W.A. Byers, R.J. Lahoda, R.D. Reid, Evaluation of Post-accident Chemical Effects in Containment Sump Fluids to Support GSI-191, Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, 2008, pp. 1-272. WCAP-16530-NPA.
  17. J. Huang, D.H. Lister, S. Uchida, The corrosion of aluminium alloy in containment after a loss-of-coolant accident, in: 21st International Conference on Water Chemistry in Nuclear Reactor Systems, San Francisco, California, USA, September, 2018.
  18. J.P. Gustafsson, Visual MINTEQ Version 3.1, 2018. https://vminteq.lwr.kth.se.
  19. J. Zhang, M. Klasky, B.C. Letellier, The aluminium chemistry and corrosion in alkaline solutions, J. Nucl. Mater. 384 (2009) 175-189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2008.11.009
  20. B. Tagirov, J. Schott, J.C. Harrichoury, J. Escalier, Experimental study of the stability of aluminate-borate complexes in hydrothermal solutions, Geochem. Cosmochim. Acta 68 (2004) 1333-1345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2003.08.018
  21. S. Salvi, G.S. Pokrovski, J. Schott, Experimental investigation of aluminium-silica aqueous complexing at $300^{\circ}C$, Chem. Geol. 151 (1998) 51-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2541(98)00070-9
  22. R.C. Cripps, S. Guntay, B. Jackel, The predicted effects of selected Phebus FPT1 sump constituents on iodine volatility, Nucl. Eng. Des. 272 (2014) 99-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2014.02.019
  23. N.C.W. Kuijpers, W.H. Kool, P.T.G. Koenis, K.E. Nilsen, I. Todd, S. van der Zwaag, Assessment of different techniques for quantification of ${\alpha}$-Al(FeMn)Si and ${\beta}$-AlFeSi intermetallics in AA 6xxx alloys, Mater. Char. 49 (2002) 409-420. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1044-5803(03)00036-6
  24. N.C.W. Kuijpers, Kinetics of the ${\beta}$-AlFeSi to ${\alpha}$-Al(FeMn)Si Transformation in Al-Mg-Si Alloys, PhD thesis, Delft University of Technology, 2004.
  25. X. Cao, J. Campbell, Morphology of ${\beta}-Al_5FeSi$ phase in Al-Si cast alloys, Mater. Trans. 47 (2006) 1303-1312. https://doi.org/10.2320/matertrans.47.1303
  26. H. Tanihata, T. Sugawara, K. Matsuda, S. Ikeno, Effect of casting and homogenizing treatment conditions on the formation of Al-Fe-Si intermetallic compounds in 6063 Al-Mg-Si alloys, J. Mater. Sci. 34 (1999) 1205-1210. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004504805781
  27. N.C.W. Kuijpers, F.J. Vermolen, C. Vuik, P.T.G. Koenis, K.E. Nilsen, S. van der Zwaag, The dependence of the ${\beta}$-AlFeSi to ${\alpha}$-Al(FeMn)Si transformation kinetics in Al-Mg-Si alloys on the alloying elements, Mater. Sci. Eng. 394 (2005) 9-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2004.09.073
  28. A.K. Gupta, P.H. Marois, D.J. Lloyd, Review of the techniques for the extraction of secondary-phase particles from aluminium alloys, Mater. Char. 37 (1996) 61-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1044-5803(96)00046-0
  29. K. Sugiyama, N. Kaji, K. Hiraga, Re-refinement of ${\alpha}$-(AlMnSi), in: Acta Crystallographica Section C Crystal Structure, vol. 54, 1998, pp. 445-447. https://doi.org/10.1107/S0108270197015989
  30. W. Yang, S. Ji, X. Zhou, I. Stone, G. Scamans, G.E. Thompson, Z. Fan, Heterogeneous nucleation of ${\alpha}$-Al grain on primary ${\alpha}$-AlFeMnSi intermetallic investigated using 3D SEM ultramicrotomy and HRTEM, Metall. Mater. Trans. 45 (2014) 3971-3980. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-014-2346-6
  31. M. Cooper, The crystal structure of the ternary alloy ${\alpha}$(AlFeSi), Acta Crystallogr. 23 (1967) 1106-1107. https://doi.org/10.1107/S0365110X67004372
  32. M.H. Mulazimoglu, A. Zaluska, J.E. Gruzleski, F. Party, Electron microscope study of Al-Fe-Si intermetallics in 6021 aluminum alloy, Metall. Mater. Trans. 27 (1996) 929-936. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02649760
  33. A.J. Dowell, Metal structure and corrosion effects in the alkaline etching of aluminium, Trans. Inst. Met. Finish. 65 (1987) 147-151. https://doi.org/10.1080/00202967.1987.11870791
  34. E.P. Short, P.G. Sheasby, Reaction of second-phase constituents in aluminium during etching in sodium hydroxide based solutions, in: Transactions of the IMF, vol. 47, 1969, pp. 27-30. https://doi.org/10.1080/00202967.1969.11870081
  35. E. Lahti, J. Leavitt, J. Zhang, Material corrosion in a reactor containment sump following a loss-of-coolant accident, Prog. Nucl. Energy 75 (2014) 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2014.03.004
  36. L.F. Mondolfo, Aluminium Alloys: Structure and Properties, Butterworths & Co. Ltd, London-Boston, 1976.