• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.16-19
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• 2010

In this study, the axial ODSCC occurrence of domestic OPR 1000 steam generator tube was caused by the tube weakness and the sludge accumulation in the secondary side of steam generator. Inconel 600 HTMA used as tube material is related to most of tube leakage accidents in the world and also these ODSCCs were detected mainly at the 5th TSP(Tube Support Plate) to the 8th TSP of hot leg side. These elevations(5th TSP to 8th TSP) pave the way for the sludge accumulation. As a result of EC(Eddy Current) Bobbin and RPC data analysis, ODSCCs were occurred at contact points of tube and tube support plate. The more accumulated sludge, the higher occurrence frequency of ODSCC.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.513-522
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• 2013

The ODSCC detected in the TSP position of Ulchin 3&4 SGs are typical ODSCC of Alloy 600MA tubes. The causative chemical environment is formed by concentration of impurities inside the occluded region formed by the tube surface, egg crate strips, and sludge deposit there. Most cracks are detected at or near the line contacts between the tube surface and the egg crate strips. The region of dense crack population, as defined as between $4^{th}$ and $9^{th}$ TSPs, and near the center of hot leg hemisphere plane, coincided well with the region of preferential sludge deposition as defined by thermal hydraulics calculation using SGAP computer code. The cracks developed homogeneously in a wide range of SGs, so that the number of cracks detected each outage increased very rapidly since the first detection in the $8^{th}$ refueling outage. The root cause assessment focused on investigation of the difference in microstructure and manufacturing residual stress in order to reveal the cause of different susceptibilities to ODSCC among identical six units. The manufacturing residual stress as measured by XRD on OD surface and by split tube method indicated that the high residual stress of Alloy 600MA tube played a critical role in developing ODSCC. The level of residual stress showed substantial variations among the six units depending on details of straightening and OD grinding processes. Youngwang 3&4 tubes are less susceptible to ODSCC than U3 and U4 tubes because semi-continuous coarse chromium carbides are formed along the grain boundary of Y3&4 tubes, while there are finer less continuous chromium carbides in U3 and U4. The different carbide morphology is caused by the difference in cooling rate after mill anneal. There is a possibility that high chromium content in the Y3&4 tubes, still within the allowable range of Alloy 600, has made some contribution to the improved resistance to ODSCC. It is anticipated that ODSCC in Y5&6 SGs will be retarded more considerably than U3 SGs since the manufacturing residual stress in Y5&6 tubes is substantially lower than in U3 tubes, while the microstructure is similar with each other.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2043-2048
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• 2013

OPR-1000 CE Steam Generator, of which tube material is composed of Alloy-600 HTMA in nuclear power plant, secondary side is generated ODSCC(Outside Diameter Stress Corrosion Cracking) due to the accumulated sludge. ODSCC is centered around the tube sheet and is being affected depending on the height of the sludge. Chemical cleaning was carried out for a top-of-the-tube sheet(TTS) of Steam Generator in order to decrease corrosive condition of the secondary side of Steam Generator tubes and suppress the occurrence of stress corrosion cracking. The amount of sludge removal was 259.2kg. The height of the accumulated sludge was reduced from 0.71 to 0.34 inches. Corrosion rate as the maximum 2.34 mils was satisfied to within EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) recommendation(10 mils).

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.869-874
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• 2014

It was discovered in a Korean PWR that an extensive number of very short and shallow cracks in the SG tubes were undetectable by eddy current in-service-inspection because of the masking effect of sludge deposits. Axial stress corrosion cracks at the outside diameter of the steam generator tubes near the line contacts with the tube support plates are the major concern among the six identical Korean nuclear power plants having CE-type steam generators with Alloy 600 high temperature mill annealed tubes, HU3&4 and HB3~6. The tubes in HB3&4 have a less susceptible microstructure so that the onset of ODSCC was substantially delayed compared to HU3&4 whose tubes are most susceptible to ODSCC among the six units. The numbers of cracks detected by the eddy current inspection jumped drastically after the steam generators of HB4 were chemically cleaned. The purpose of the chemical cleaning was to mitigate stress corrosion cracking by removing the heavy sludge deposit, since a corrosive environment is formed in the occluded region under the sludge deposit. SGCC also enhances the detection capability of the eddy current inspection at the same time. Measurement of the size of each crack using the motorized rotating pancake coil probe indicated that the cracks in HB4 were shorter and substantially shallower than the cracks in HU3&4. It is believed that the cracks were shorter and shallower because the microstructure of the tubes in HB4 is less susceptible to ODSCC. It was readily understood from the size distribution of the cracks and the quantitative information available on the probability of detection that most cracks in HB4 had been undetected until the steam generators were chemically cleaned.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.519-523
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• 2013

A steam generator (SG) tube is an important component of a nuclear power plant (NPP). It works as a pressure boundary between the primary and secondary systems. The integrity of a SG tube can be assessed by an eddy current test every outage. The eddy current technique(adopting a bobbin probe) is currently the main technique used to assess the integrity of the tubing of a steam generator. An eddy current signal analyst for steam generator tubes continuously analyzes data over a given period of time. However, there are possibilities that the analyst conducting the test may get tired and cause mistakes, such as: missing indications or not being able to separate a true defect signal from one that is more complicated. This error could lead to confusion and an improper interpretation of the signal analysis. In order to avoid these possibilities, many countries of opted for automated analyses. Axial ODSCC (outside diameter stress corrosion cracking) defects on the tubes of OPR1000 steam generators have been found on the tube that are in contract with tube support plates. In this study, automated analysis software called CDS (computer data screening) made by Zetec was used. This paper will discuss the results of introducing an automated analysis system for an axial ODSCC on the tubes of an OPR1000 steam generator.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.250-255
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• 2007

Steam generator tubes play an important role in safety because they constitute one of the primary barriers between the radioactive and non-radioactive sides of the nuclear power plant. For this reason, the integrity of the tubes is essential in minimizing the leakage possibility of radioactive water. The integrity of the tubes is evaluated based on NDE (non-destructive evaluation) inspection results. Especially ECT (eddy current test) method is usually used for detecting the flaws in steam generator tubes. However, detection capacity of the NDE is not perfect and all of the "real flaws" which actually existing in steam generator tunes is not known by NDE results. Therefore reliability of NDE system is one of the essential parts in assessing the integrity of steam generators. In this study POD (probability of detection) of ECT system for ODSCC in steam generator tubes is evaluated using multivariate logistic regression. The cracked tube specimens are made using the withdrawn steam generator tubes. Therefore the cracks are not artificial but real. Using the multivariate logistic regression method, continuous POD surfaces are evaluated from hit (detection) and miss (no detection) binary data obtained from destructive and non-destructive evaluation of the cracked tubes. Length and depth of cracks are considered in multivariate logistic regression and their effects on detection capacity are evaluated.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.83-88
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• 2010

Domestic nuclear steam generators with Alloy 600 HTMA tubes have experienced axial cracking at eggcrate tube support plates(TSPs). The axial stress corrosion cracks were observed at the crevice between outside of tubes and eggcrate TSPs. The root cause of axial cracking was investigated by thermal hydraulic analysis and sludge distribution diagnosis. It is suggested that deposition of sludge at eggcrate TSPs could increase the outside surface temperature of tube and promote the enrichment of impurities at crevice, and thus accelerate cracking. Additionally strategy for reducing the sludge ingress to steam generators is discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.217-222
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• 1995

1994년 11월에 나타난 고리 1호기 증기발생기의 전열관 누설에 대한 원인 조사결과, 손상원인은 2차측 응력부식균열(ODSCC)로 밝혀졌으므로, 이에 따른 단기적인 손상완화대책으로 (1) TiO$_2$와 보론산을 첨가한 틈새 세정, (2) TiO$_2$를 첨가한 하이드라진 담금, (3) $Na^{+}$/Cl$^{-}$ 몰비 조절, (4) 용존산소 제거, (5) T$_{HOT}$ 감소 등을 선정하였다. 이와 같은 완화 대책을 적용한 경우의 ODSCC 손상진전율을 확률론적으로 분석한 결과, 증기발생기교체(1998년 예정) 이전까지 전열관 누설에 의한 운전정지 가능성은 매우 낮게 나타났다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.211-216
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• 1995

1994년 11월에 나타난 고리 1호기 증기발생기의 전열관 누설에 대한 원인을 조사하기 위하여 인출 전열관의 파손 분석과 슬러지 분석 및 pH 분석 등을 수행하였다. 손상원인은 국부적인 염기도 상승과 부식전위 상승에 따른 2차측 응력부식균열(ODSCC)로 밝혀졌다. 전열관 표면과 접한 관판 상부의 퇴적슬러지 끝단에 형성된 틈새에서 나타나는 비등현상으로 $Na^{+}$ 등의 양이온이 농축하게 되며, Cl$^{-}$ 등의 음이온 증발로 인하여 국부적으로 염기도의 상승현상이 야기되었다. 또한 재 가동시 전열관 표면에 침착된 잔류 구리와 용존산소의 결합으로 부식전위가 상승되었다. 이와 같은 ODSCC 발생환경은 1990년이래 지속적으로 형성된 것으로 판단된다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1996.11b
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• pp.515-520
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• 1996

원자력 발전소 증기발생기의 1차측 및 2차측 응력부식균열에 대한 온도감소 효과를 고리 1호기의 현장 데이터를 근간으로 분석하였다. 고리 1호기의 경우 출력을 100%에서 85%로 감소시키므로써, 고온관 온도는 320.5$^{\circ}C$에서 313.5$^{\circ}C$로 7$^{\circ}C$ 감소하였으며, 이와 같은 온도감소 효과로 PWSCC 손상률은 약 40%, ODSCC 손상률은 약 33% 감소하는 것으로 산출되었다. PWSCC의 경우 Weibull 기울기는 b = 5.6 에서 b : 3.8로 감소한 것으로 나타났다. PWSCC의 억제방안으로는 출력감발에 의한 온도감소가 가장 효과적이지만, ODSCC의 경우에는 틈새 분위기의 변환이 큰 역할을 하는 것으로 나타났다.