Effects Of Nickel On Irradiation Embrittlement Of Light Water Reactor Pressure Vessel Steels

This publication sets out the findings of a co-ordinated research project to determine the influence of the mechanism of the deterioration effect in radiation embrittlement of reactor pressure vessel steels with a high nickel content in nuclear power plants, including procurement of materials, determination of mechanical properties, irradiation and testing of specimens, and microstructural characterisation.

This publication is intended to assist nuclear utilities in optimizing the service life of nuclear power plants. It reviews the latest research on the effects of neutron irradiation on the steels and welds of reactor pressure vessels within light water cooled and moderated reactors.

Reactor Pressure Vessels (RPVs) contain the fuel and therefore the reaction at the heart of nuclear power plants. They are a life-determining structural component: if they suffer serious damage, the continued operation of the plant is in jeopardy. This book critically reviews irradiation embrittlement, the main degradation mechanism affecting RPV steels, and mitigation routes for managing the RPV lifetime. Part I reviews RPV design and fabrication in different countries, with an emphasis on the materials required, their important properties, and manufacturing technologies. Part II then considers RVP embrittlement in operational nuclear power plants using different reactors. Chapters are devoted to embrittlement in light-water reactors, including WWER-type reactors and Magnox reactors. Finally, Part III presents techniques for studying embrittlement, including irradiation simulation techniques, microstructural characterisation techniques, and probabilistic fracture mechanics. Irradiation Embrittlement of Reactor Pressure Vessels (RPVs) in Nuclear Power Plants provides a thorough review of an issue that is central to the safety of nuclear power generation. The book includes contributions from an international team of experts, and will be a useful resource for nuclear plant operators and managers, relevant regulatory and safety bodies, nuclear metallurgists and other academics in this field Discusses reactor pressure vessel (RPV) design and the effect irradiation embrittlement can have, the main degradation mechanism affecting RPVs Examines embrittlement processes in RPVs in different reactor types, as well as techniques for studying RPV embrittlement