• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2013

In nuclear power plants, lined carbon steel pipes or PCCPs (pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipes) have been widely used for sea water transport systems. However, de-bonding of linings and oxidation of PCCP could make problems in aged NPPs (nuclear power plants). Recently at several NPPs in the United States, the PCCPs or lined carbon steel pipes of the sea water or raw water system have been replaced with HDPE (high density polyethylene) pipes, which have outstanding resistance to oxidation and seismic loading. ASME B&PV Code committee developed Code Case N-755, which describes rules for the construction of buried Safety Class 3 polyethylene pressure piping systems. Although US NRC permitted HDPE materials for Class 3 buried piping, their permission was limited to only 10-year operation because of several concerns including the quality of fusion zone of HDPE. In this study, various requirements for fusion qualification test of HDPE and some regulatory issues raised during HDPE application review in foreign NPPs are introduced.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.1142-1153
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• 2019

This paper presents the effect of fusion procedure on the fusion performance of the thermal butt fusion in the safety class III buried HDPE piping per various tests performed, including high speed tensile impact, free bend, blunt notched tensile, notched creep, and PENT tests. The suitability of fusion joints and qualification procedures was evaluated by comparing test results from the base material and buttfusion joints. From the notched tensile test result, it was found that the fused joints have much lower toughness than the base material. It was also identified that the notched tensile test is more desirable than the high speed tensile impact and free bend tests presented in the ASME Code Case N-755-3 as a fusion qualification test method. In addition, with regard to the single low-pressure fusion joint performances, the procedure given by the ISO 21307 was determined to be better that the one specified in the Code Case N-755-3.

• 대한기계학회논문집A
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.405-413
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• 2015

최근 미국에서는 가동기간이 오래된 원전 매설배관에서 부식 및 침식에 의해 삼중수소 누설로 지하수가 오염되는 사례가 급증하고 있다. 따라서, 현재 원전 안전등급 매설배관으로 사용되고 있는 금속재료의 배관을 대신해서 부식 및 침식 등의 열화 손상에 대한 저항성이 우수한 고밀도 폴리에틸렌(HDPE) 배관을 ASME Code Class 3 안전계통 배관으로 사용하기 위한 연구가 수행되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 발전소 가동 중 매설배관에 가해질 수 있는 하중과 온도 범위를 바탕으로 HDPE 배관 융착부에 대한 인장 시험과 저속균열성장 (SCG) 시험을 수행하였다. 시험 결과로 얻은 SCG 시험편의 파단면을 분석하여 HDPE 재료의 파손 기구를 파악하였다. 이를 바탕으로 3D 유한요소 해석을 이용하여 균열이 있는 HDPE 재료가 버틸 수 있는 한계하중에 대한 검증을 수행하였다.