Neutron irradiation embrittlement of reactor pressure vessel steels (RPVs) is one of the important material aging 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 complemental use of the surveillance program and embrittlement correlation method. Recent surveillance data suggest some discrepancies between the measurements and predictions of the embrittlement in some old boiling water reactor (BWR) RPV steels with high impurity content. Some discrepancies of pressurized water reactor (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, reirradiation, 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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October 2010
Research Papers
Industry Practice for the Neutron Irradiation Embrittlement of Reactor Pressure Vessels in Japan
Norimichi Yamashita,
Norimichi Yamashita
Tokyo Electric Power Company
, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8560, Japan
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Masanobu Iwasaki,
Masanobu Iwasaki
Kansai Electric Power Company
, Mikata-gun, Fukui 919-1141, Japan
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Koji Dozaki,
Koji Dozaki
Japan Atomic Power Company
, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0053, Japan
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Naoki Soneda
Naoki Soneda
Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
, Komae, Tokyo 201–8511, Japan
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Norimichi Yamashita
Tokyo Electric Power Company
, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8560, Japan
Masanobu Iwasaki
Kansai Electric Power Company
, Mikata-gun, Fukui 919-1141, Japan
Koji Dozaki
Japan Atomic Power Company
, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0053, Japan
Naoki Soneda
Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
, Komae, Tokyo 201–8511, JapanJ. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. Oct 2010, 132(10): 102919 (8 pages)
Published Online: July 9, 2010
Article history
Received:
August 12, 2009
Revised:
November 11, 2009
Online:
July 9, 2010
Published:
July 9, 2010
Citation
Yamashita, N., Iwasaki, M., Dozaki, K., and Soneda, N. (July 9, 2010). "Industry Practice for the Neutron Irradiation Embrittlement of Reactor Pressure Vessels in Japan." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. October 2010; 132(10): 102919. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4001057
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