Management of nickel-based alloy butt welds in the reactor coolant system of Belgian NPPs

Rik-Wouter Bosch; Frédéric Somville; Robert Gérard; S. Vancluysen; D. Bertolis; D. Martens; J. Bracke

Management of nickel-based alloy butt welds in the reactor coolant system of Belgian NPPs

Rik-Wouter Bosch, Frédéric Somville, Robert Gérard, S. Vancluysen, D. Bertolis, D. Martens, J. Bracke

Research output › peer-review

Abstract

Following the occurrence of PWSCC events in RPV outlet nozzles welds in V.C. Summer and Ringhals 3 and 4 NPPs in 2000, ENGIE Electrabel set up an enhanced ISI program specifically dedicated to RPV and pressurizer nozzles butt welds made of nickel-based alloy 182 in Doel 3-4 and Tihange 2-3 PWR units. Specific non-destructive examinations (NDE) carried out in this framework at an increased frequency did not reveal any PWSCC indications but some non-growing sub-surface indications have been detected. It was then decided to mitigate the risk of PWSCC in all pressurizer nozzles butt welds made of nickel-based alloy 182. The paper summarizes the strategy implemented by ENGIE Electrabel to manage the risk of PWSCC in those butt welds.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Contribution of Materials Investigations and Operating Experience to Light Water NPPs’ Safety, Performance and Reliability
Publisher	Unknown
Pages	1-9
Number of pages	9
State	Published - 17 Sep 2018
Event	2018 - FONTEVRAUD 9: Contribution of Materials Investigations and Operating Experience to Light Water NPPs’ Safety, Performance and Reliability - Palais des Papes, Avignon Duration: 17 Sep 2018 → 20 Sep 2018 http://www.sfen-fontevraud9.org/

Conference

Conference	2018 - FONTEVRAUD 9
Country/Territory	France
City	Avignon
Period	2018-09-17 → 2018-09-20
Internet address	http://www.sfen-fontevraud9.org/

Cite this

@inproceedings{f03e5b8e3a3d4e45bf9f63b10f56d9a8,

title = "Management of nickel-based alloy butt welds in the reactor coolant system of Belgian NPPs",

abstract = "Following the occurrence of PWSCC events in RPV outlet nozzles welds in V.C. Summer and Ringhals 3 and 4 NPPs in 2000, ENGIE Electrabel set up an enhanced ISI program specifically dedicated to RPV and pressurizer nozzles butt welds made of nickel-based alloy 182 in Doel 3-4 and Tihange 2-3 PWR units. Specific non-destructive examinations (NDE) carried out in this framework at an increased frequency did not reveal any PWSCC indications but some non-growing sub-surface indications have been detected. It was then decided to mitigate the risk of PWSCC in all pressurizer nozzles butt welds made of nickel-based alloy 182. The paper summarizes the strategy implemented by ENGIE Electrabel to manage the risk of PWSCC in those butt welds.",

keywords = "Nickel-based alloy, Pressurizer, Reactor Pressure Vessel, Structural Weld Overlay",

author = "Rik-Wouter Bosch and Fr{\'e}d{\'e}ric Somville and Robert G{\'e}rard and S. Vancluysen and D. Bertolis and D. Martens and J. Bracke",

note = "Score=3; 2018 - FONTEVRAUD 9 : Contribution of Materials Investigations and Operating Experience to Light Water NPPs{\textquoteright} Safety, Performance and Reliability ; Conference date: 17-09-2018 Through 20-09-2018",

year = "2018",

month = sep,

day = "17",

language = "English",

pages = "1--9",

booktitle = "Contribution of Materials Investigations and Operating Experience to Light Water NPPs{\textquoteright} Safety, Performance and Reliability",

publisher = "Unknown",

url = "http://www.sfen-fontevraud9.org/",

}

Bosch, R-W, Somville, F, Gérard, R, Vancluysen, S, Bertolis, D, Martens, D & Bracke, J 2018, Management of nickel-based alloy butt welds in the reactor coolant system of Belgian NPPs. in Contribution of Materials Investigations and Operating Experience to Light Water NPPs’ Safety, Performance and Reliability. Unknown, pp. 1-9, 2018 - FONTEVRAUD 9, Avignon , France, 2018-09-17.

TY - GEN

T1 - Management of nickel-based alloy butt welds in the reactor coolant system of Belgian NPPs

AU - Bosch, Rik-Wouter

AU - Somville, Frédéric

AU - Gérard, Robert

AU - Vancluysen, S.

AU - Bertolis, D.

AU - Martens, D.

AU - Bracke, J.

N1 - Score=3

PY - 2018/9/17

Y1 - 2018/9/17

N2 - Following the occurrence of PWSCC events in RPV outlet nozzles welds in V.C. Summer and Ringhals 3 and 4 NPPs in 2000, ENGIE Electrabel set up an enhanced ISI program specifically dedicated to RPV and pressurizer nozzles butt welds made of nickel-based alloy 182 in Doel 3-4 and Tihange 2-3 PWR units. Specific non-destructive examinations (NDE) carried out in this framework at an increased frequency did not reveal any PWSCC indications but some non-growing sub-surface indications have been detected. It was then decided to mitigate the risk of PWSCC in all pressurizer nozzles butt welds made of nickel-based alloy 182. The paper summarizes the strategy implemented by ENGIE Electrabel to manage the risk of PWSCC in those butt welds.

AB - Following the occurrence of PWSCC events in RPV outlet nozzles welds in V.C. Summer and Ringhals 3 and 4 NPPs in 2000, ENGIE Electrabel set up an enhanced ISI program specifically dedicated to RPV and pressurizer nozzles butt welds made of nickel-based alloy 182 in Doel 3-4 and Tihange 2-3 PWR units. Specific non-destructive examinations (NDE) carried out in this framework at an increased frequency did not reveal any PWSCC indications but some non-growing sub-surface indications have been detected. It was then decided to mitigate the risk of PWSCC in all pressurizer nozzles butt welds made of nickel-based alloy 182. The paper summarizes the strategy implemented by ENGIE Electrabel to manage the risk of PWSCC in those butt welds.

KW - Nickel-based alloy

KW - Pressurizer

KW - Reactor Pressure Vessel

KW - Structural Weld Overlay

UR - http://ecm.sckcen.be/OTCS/llisapi.dll/open/31634907

M3 - In-proceedings paper

SP - 1

EP - 9

BT - Contribution of Materials Investigations and Operating Experience to Light Water NPPs’ Safety, Performance and Reliability

PB - Unknown

T2 - 2018 - FONTEVRAUD 9

Y2 - 17 September 2018 through 20 September 2018

ER -