The chemistry concentration uncertainty of cooper and nickel significantly affects the shift in reference nil-ductility transition temperature (ΔRTNDT). The uncertainty comes from the methods and equipments applied in measurements, the lack of specimen in surveillance capsule, and the non-homogeneous of material. The variations of ΔRTNDT result in the differences of failure probability of reactor pressure vessel. In this study, the structural integrity of Chinshan boiling water reactor RPV shell welds was evaluated by probabilistic fracture mechanics code-Fracture Analysis of Vessel – Oak Ridge (FAVOR). The influence of chemistry concentration uncertainty on the fracture probability of Chinshan nuclear power plant RPV with 32 and 64 effective full power years (EFPY) operation was discussed. The results of this work can be used to evaluate the structural integrity of the welds located at the RPV beltline region, and provide the aging assessment of reactor pressure vessel.

Volume Subject Area:
Operations, Applications, and Components
Topics:
Chemistry, Fracture mechanics, Uncertainty, Fracture (Materials), Fracture (Process), Probability, Reactor vessels, Welded joints, Boiling water reactors, Ductility, Failure, Nickel, Nuclear power stations, Phase transition temperature, Shells, Surveillance, Vessels
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Copyright © 2011
 by ASME
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