​​Reactor Metals

Numerous types of metal alloys can be found throughout the primary and secondary systems of nuclear power plants. Some of these materials (in particular, the reactor internals) are exposed to high temperatures, water, and neutron flux, creating degradation mechanisms in the materials that are unique to reactor service. Research projects in this area will provide a technical foundation to establish the ability of those metals to support extended operations.

Concrete

Large areas of most nuclear power plants have been constructed using concrete and there are some data on performance through the first 40 years of service. In general, the performance of reinforced concrete structures in nuclear power plants has been very good. Incidents of degradation initially reported generally occurred early in the life of the structures and primarily have been attributed to construction/design deficiencies or improper material selection. Although the vast majority of these structures will continue to meet their functional or performance requirements during the current and any future licensing periods, it is reasonable to assume that there will be isolated examples where as a result primarily of environmental effects, the structures may not exhibit the desired durability (e.g., water-intake structures and freezing/thawing damage of containments) without some form of intervention.

Cabling

Cable aging mechanisms and degradation is an important area of study. The plant operators carry out periodic cable inspections using NDE techniques to measure degradation and determine when replacement is needed. Degradation of these cables is primarily caused by long-term exposure to high temperatures. Additionally, stretches of cables that have been buried underground are frequently exposed to groundwater. Wholesale replacement of cables is likely economically undesirable for plant operation beyond 60 years.

Mitigation Technologies

Mitigation technologies include weld repair, post-irradiation annealing, and water chemistry modifications. Welding is widely used for component repair. Weld-repair techniques must be resistant to long-term degradation mechanisms. Extended lifetimes and increased repair frequency welds must be resistant to corrosion, irradiation, and other forms of degradation. The purpose of this research area is to develop new welding techniques, weld analysis, and weld repair. A critical assessment of the most advanced methods and their viability for LWR repair weld applications is needed. Post-irradiation annealing may be a means of reducing irradiation-induced hardening in the RPV. Water chemistry modification is another mitigation technology that warrants evaluation.