• Journal of the Korean Society of Systems Engineering
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.25-40
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• 2016

The Systems Engineering (SE) approach is characterized by the application of a structured engineering methodology for the design of a complex system or component. In this study, the SE methodology is used to design a nondestructive inspection system for Bottom Mounted Instrumentation (BMI) nozzles. We developed a system that enables nondestructive inspection of BMI nozzles during regular refueling outage without removing the reactor internals. A special ultrasonic (UT) probe is introduced to scan and detect cracks within the weld region of the nozzle. A 3D model of the inspection structure system was developed along with the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) and internals which permits a virtual 3D simulation of the operation to check the design concept and effectiveness of the system and to provide a good visualization of the system. This approach allows for a virtual walk through to verify the proposed BMI nozzle inspection system.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2013

BMI nozzles in bottom head of the nuclear vessel are one of major components in nuclear power plants. The BMI nozzles have high possibility to generate PWSCC(primary water stress corrosion crack) according to recent foreign case although operation temperature is lower then the upper head of the nuclear vessel. Thus, nondestructive inspection of the BMI nozzles is required. But, inspection of BMI nozzles is not easy since the BMI nozzles placed in high radiated area and inside the nozzles filled with boric acid. Thus, in this study, a TOFD transducer for inspection of BMI and automated scanner system with water were developed. Also, validation of performance of the developed transducer and system are performed using specimens with artificial defects.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.506-519
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• 2024

To simulate the verification process using materials from a decommissioned reactor, a mock-up of the bottom-mounted instrument nozzle in the Kori 1 reactor, where the nozzle was attached to a plate by J-groove dissimilar metal welding, was fabricated. The mock-up distortion was quantified by measuring the plate surface displacement after welding. The residual stresses formed on the support plate surface and the inner surface of the nozzle were then analyzed using the hole-drilling method, contour method, and neutron diffraction. Welding simulations were performed using a 3D finite element method to validate the measured results. The measured and computed stress distributions on the support plate exhibited reasonable agreement. Conversely, the stresses on the inside of the nozzle were found to have an indisputable difference in the contour method and neutron diffraction measurements, which demonstrated strong tensile and compressive hoop stresses, respectively. The possible origins of such differences were investigated and we have provided some suggestions for a precise evaluation in the simulation. This study is expected to be useful in future research on decommissioned reactors.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.13-18
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• 2016

Toshiba has developed a laser peening system for PWRs(pressurized water reactors) as well after the one for BWRs(boiling water reactors), and applied it for BMI(bottom-mounted instrumentation) nozzles, core deluge line nozzles and primary water inlet nozzles of Ikata Unit 1 and 2 of Shikoku Electric Power Company since 2004, which are Japanese operating PWR power plants. Laser pulses were delivered through twin optical fibers and irradiated on two portions in parallel to reduce operation time. For BMI nozzles, we developed a tiny irradiation head for small tubes and we peened the inner surface around J-groove welds after laser ultrasonic testing (LUT) as the remote inspection, and we peened the outer surface and the weld for Ikata Unit 2 supplementary. For core deluge line nozzles and primary water inlet nozzles, we peened the inner surface of the dissimilar metal welding, which is of nickel base alloy, joining a safe end and a low alloy metal nozzle. In this paper, the development and the actual application of the laser peening system for PWR power plants will be described.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.1115-1130
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• 2012

In nuclear power plants, the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) upper head control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) penetration nozzles are fabricated using J-groove weld geometry. Recently, the incidences of cracking in Alloy 600 CRDM nozzles and their associated welds have increased significantly. The cracking mechanism has been attributed to primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC), and it has been shown to be driven by welding residual stresses and operational stresses in the weld region. The weld-induced residual stress is the main factor contributing to crack growth. Therefore, an exact estimation of the residual stress is important for ensuring reliable operation. This study presents the residual stress computation performed for an RPV CRDM penetration nozzle in Korea. Based on two and three dimensional finite element analyses, the effect of welding variables on the residual stress variation is estimated for sensitivity analysis.