Plant life management (PLiM) practices for sodium cooled fast neutron spectrum nuclear reactors (SFRs)
01 Jan 2010-pp 795-837
TL;DR: In this article, the authors give an overview of life management issues of fast neutron spectrum (SFRs) and present state-of-the-art PLiM practices for SFRs.
Abstract: This chapter gives an overview of life management issues of sodium cooled fast neutron spectrum reactors (SFRs). The topics covered in this chapter include robust design and validation, design by analysis philosophy, materials selection, manufacturing processes, state-of-the-art operation and maintenance strategies, meticulous in-service inspection, materials behaviour and ageing management, human resources and knowledge and asset management. The present state-of-the-art of PLiM practices for SFRs is reviewed and future trends in life assessment procedures and R&D required for further enhancing the safety and reliability of SFRs are highlighted.
Citations
More filters
TL;DR: An in-bore magnetostrictive transducer is designed for the steam generator tubes of Prototype fast breeder reactor for the generation of L(0,2) modes of frequencies in the range of 250-350 kHz and an excellent agreement is observed between the experimentally measured group velocities with those obtained from the dispersion curves in this frequency range.
18 citations
17 May 2013
TL;DR: This report identifies a number of requirements for prognostics health management of passive systems in AdvSMRs, documents technical gaps in establishing a prototypical prognostic methodology for this purpose, and describes a preliminary research plan for addressing these technical gaps.
Abstract: This report identifies a number of requirements for prognostics health management of passive systems in AdvSMRs, documents technical gaps in establishing a prototypical prognostic methodology for this purpose, and describes a preliminary research plan for addressing these technical gaps. AdvSMRs span multiple concepts; therefore a technology- and design-neutral approach is taken, with the focus being on characteristics that are likely to be common to all or several AdvSMR concepts. An evaluation of available literature is used to identify proposed concepts for AdvSMRs along with likely operational characteristics. Available operating experience of advanced reactors is used in identifying passive components that may be subject to degradation, materials likely to be used for these components, and potential modes of degradation of these components. This information helps in assessing measurement needs for PHM systems, as well as defining functional requirements of PHM systems. An assessment of current state-of-the-art approaches to measurements, sensors and instrumentation, diagnostics and prognostics is also documented. This state-of-the-art evaluation, combined with the requirements, may be used to identify technical gaps and research needs in the development, evaluation, and deployment of PHM systems for AdvSMRs. A preliminary research plan to address high-priority research needs for the deployment of PHM systemsmore » to AdvSMRs is described, with the objective being the demonstration of prototypic prognostics technology for passive components in AdvSMRs. Greater efficiency in achieving this objective can be gained through judicious selection of materials and degradation modes that are relevant to proposed AdvSMR concepts, and for which significant knowledge already exists. These selections were made based on multiple constraints including the analysis performed in this document, ready access to laboratory-scale facilities for materials testing and measurement, and potential synergies with other national laboratory and university partners.« less
12 citations
Cites background from "Plant life management (PLiM) practi..."
...The operational experience for 22 SFRs (with a combined experience of approximately 400 reactor-years) is documented in numerous reports and articles with comprehensive reviews on the subject provided by Guidez et al. (2008) and Raj et al. (2010)....
[...]
5 citations
TL;DR: To investigate the long-term high-temperature durability, a CBT/PZT ultrasonic transducer was tested in the furnace at 600 °C for 36 h, and the sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio were stable throughout the experiment.
Abstract: Continuous ultrasonic in-situ monitoring for industrial applications is difficult owing to the high operating temperatures in industrial fields. It is expected that ultrasonic transducers consisting of a CaBi₄Ti₄O15(CBT)/Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃(PZT) sol-gel composite could be one solution for ultrasonic nondestructive testing (NDT) above 500 °C because no couplant is required and CBT has a high Curie temperature. To verify the high temperature durability, CBT/PZT sol-gel composite films were fabricated on titanium substrates by spray coating, and the CBT/PZT samples were tested in a furnace at various temperatures. Reflected echoes with a high signal-to-noise ratio were observed up to 600 °C. A thermal cycle test was conducted from room temperature to 600 °C, and no significant deterioration was found after the second thermal cycle. To investigate the long-term high-temperature durability, a CBT/PZT ultrasonic transducer was tested in the furnace at 600 °C for 36 h. Ultrasonic responses were recorded every 3 h, and the sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio were stable throughout the experiment.
3 citations
References
More filters
TL;DR: In this article, total strain controlled low cycle fatigue tests on 316L(N) stainless steel have been conducted in air at various strain rates in the temperature range of 773-873 K to identify the operative time-dependent mechanisms and to understand their influence on the cyclic deformation and fracture behaviour of the alloy.
130 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a thermo-mechanical treatment (TMT) was developed that increased the strength from room temperature to 700°C of commercial nitrogen-containing steels and new steels designed for the TMT.
122 citations
TL;DR: A brief description of the physical concepts of NDE methods and the physical/derived parameters that are used for assessing defects, stresses and microstructures are given in this paper, where a few case studies highlighting the importance of non-destructive testing and evaluation for structural integrity assessment are also discussed based on the investigations carried out at the authors' laboratory.
Abstract: Reliable performance of a component or structure depends on pre-service quality of the component and in-service degradation of the component under operating conditions. The role of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) in ensuring pre-service quality and also monitoring in-service degradation to avoid premature failure of the components/structures is ever increasing. There are many NDE techniques based on various physical principles. The end objective of NDE is detection and characterisation of anomalies such as defects, stresses and microstructural degradations in materials. This is accomplished by establishing correlation between a nondestructively measured physical/derived parameter and quantitative information on defects/stresses/microstructures. The NDE information together with design parameters are taken into consideration for evaluation of integrity and life assessment of the components/structures. In this paper, a brief description of the physical concepts of NDE methods and the physical/derived parameters that are used for assessing defects, stresses and microstructures are given. A few case studies highlighting the importance of non-destructive testing and evaluation for structural integrity assessment are also discussed based on the investigations carried out at the authors’ laboratory. Emerging concepts like intelligent processing of materials, expert systems, neural networks, use of multisensors with fusion of data and exploitation of signal analysis and imaging approaches are also addressed in this paper.
37 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the important incidents related to fast reactor sodium components and systems are summarized, based on experience, analysis, experimental tests, and research and development for past and current SFRs.
Abstract: Eighteen sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs), a number that includes reactors in operation or shut down, have provided 388 reactor-years of operating experience to date. This paper summarizes the important incidents related to fast reactor sodium components and systems. The solutions incorporated, based on experience, analysis, experimental tests, and research and development for past and current SFRs, are described. The paper also describes lessons learned for future SFRs.
37 citations