Neutron irradiation embrittlement of reactor pressure vessel steels (RPVs) is one of the important material ageing issues. In Japan, almost 40 years have past since the first plant started its commercial operation, and several plants are expected to become beyond 40 years old in the near future. Thus, the safe operation based on the appropriate recognition of the neutron irradiation embrittlement is inevitable to ensure the structural integrity of RPVs. The amount of the neutron irradiation embrittlement of RPV steels has been monitored and predicted by the complementally use of surveillance program and embrittlement correlation method. Recent surveillance data suggest some discrepancies between the measurements and predictions of the embrittlement in some old BWR RPV steels with high impurity content. Some discrepancies of PWR RPV surveillance data from the predictions have also been recognized in the embrittlement trend. Although such discrepancies are basically within a scatter band, the increasing necessity of the improvement of the predictive capability of the embrittlement correlation method has been emphasized to be prepared for the future long term operation. Regarding the surveillance program, on the other hand, only one original surveillance capsule, except for the reloaded capsules containing Charpy broken halves, is available in some BWR plants. This situation strongly pushed establishing a new code for a new surveillance program, where the use of the reloading and reconstitution of the tested specimens is specified. The Japan Electric Association Code, JEAC 4201–2007 “Method of Surveillance Tests for Structural Materials of Nuclear Reactors,” was revised in December, 2007, in order to address these issues. A new mechanism-guided embrittlement correlation method was adopted. The surveillance program was modified for the long term operation of nuclear plants by introducing the “long-term surveillance program”, which is to be applied for the operation beyond 40 years. The use of the reloading, re-irradiation and reconstitution of the tested Charpy/fracture toughness specimens is also specified in the new revision. This paper reports the application and practice of the JEAC4201–2007 in terms of the prediction of embrittlement and the use of tested surveillance specimens in Japan.
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17th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering
July 12–16, 2009
Brussels, Belgium
Conference Sponsors:
- Nuclear Engineering Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4351-2
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Industry Practice for the Neutron Irradiation Embrittlement of Reactor Pressure Vessel Steels in Japan
Norimichi Yamashita,
Norimichi Yamashita
Tokyo Electric Power Company, Tokyo, Japan
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Masanobu Iwasaki,
Masanobu Iwasaki
Kansai Electric Power Company, Mihama, Fukui, Japan
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Koji Dozaki,
Koji Dozaki
The Japan Atomic Power Company, Tokyo, Japan
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Naoki Soneda
Naoki Soneda
Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Komae, Tokyo, Japan
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Norimichi Yamashita
Tokyo Electric Power Company, Tokyo, Japan
Masanobu Iwasaki
Kansai Electric Power Company, Mihama, Fukui, Japan
Koji Dozaki
The Japan Atomic Power Company, Tokyo, Japan
Naoki Soneda
Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Komae, Tokyo, Japan
Paper No:
ICONE17-75322, pp. 431-439; 9 pages
Published Online:
February 25, 2010
Citation
Yamashita, N, Iwasaki, M, Dozaki, K, & Soneda, N. "Industry Practice for the Neutron Irradiation Embrittlement of Reactor Pressure Vessel Steels in Japan." Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering. Volume 1: Plant Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Modifications and Life Cycle; Component Reliability and Materials Issues; Next Generation Systems. Brussels, Belgium. July 12–16, 2009. pp. 431-439. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ICONE17-75322
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