Abstract
Cavitation Peening (CP) is achieved by delivery of Ultra-High Pressure (UHP) water through a nozzle, the pressure drop through the orifice creating cavitation bubbles, and delivering these bubbles to the target metal surfaces. Collapse of the bubbles on the surface generates a shock wave resulting in compressive stresses. Complex or regular geometric surfaces can be treated by “coating” them with cavitation bubbles through this simple, robust, and forgiving process. Laboratory tests have demonstrated that the compressive stresses due to UHP CP prevent PWSCC crack initiation of Alloy 600. UHP CP additionally does not significantly affect roughness and hardness in depth of the mitigated surfaces nor risk to damage the component. UHP CP can be applied cost effectively to the remaining Alloy 600 primary components in order to prevent expensive repairs or replacements. Process parameter development and a tooling qualification program for the application of the UHP CP process on Alloy 600 RPV head penetration nozzles was completed, and this process was successfully implemented in several PWRs .
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
P. Scott et al., Comparison of laboratory and field experience of PWSCC in Alloy 182 weld metal, in Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems—Water Reactors, CNS, Whistler BC, Canada, 19–23 Aug (2007)
S. Fyfitch et al., A review of Alloy 600 and Alloy 182 PWSCC in CRDM nozzles and welds in PWRs and future expectations, in Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems—Water Reactors, Asheville, NC, USA, 11–15 Aug (2013)
D. Waskey, in Palo Verde Unit 3 BMI Nozzle Modification, Fontevraud 8, Presentation T04–240, Avignon, 15–18 Sept (2014)
L’ASN examine les conditions de réparation de défauts détectés dans une pénétration de fond de cuve du réacteur 1 de Gravelines, online consultation on the French Safety Authority website. https://www.asn.fr/L-ASN/ASN-en-region/Division-de-Lille/Actualites-de-votre-region/Reparation-de-defauts-detectes-dans-la-cuve-du-reacteur-n-1-de-Gravelines
O. Calonne et al., Stress corrosion cracking initiation of Alloy 182 weld metal in primary coolant—influence of chemical composition, Fontevraud 7, A136-T04, Avignon, 26–30 Sept (2010)
EPRI Materials Reliability Program, Topical Report for Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracking Mitigation by Surface Stress Improvement (MRP-335, Revision 3-A), 3002009241 (2016)
A. Marion et al., in Effects of cavitation peening on surface conditions and PWSCC behavior of nickel base alloys 600 and 182. 17th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems—Water Reactors, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 9–13 Aug (2015)
EPRI Materials Reliability Program, Technical Basis for Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracking Mitigation by Surface Stress Improvement (MRP-267, Revision 2), 3002008083 (2016)
CFR 50.59, https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part050/part050-0059.html (last viewed 2nd of June 2017)
CFR 50 Appendix B, https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part050/part050-appb.html (last viewed 2nd of June 2017)
ASME Code Case N-729 Revision 5, Alternate Examination Requirements for PWR Reactor Vessel Upper Heads With Nozzles Having Pressure-Retaining Partial-Penetration Welds
ASME Code Case N-770 Revision 4, Alternate Examination Requirements and Acceptance Standards for Class 1 PWR Piping and Vessel Nozzle Butt Welds Fabricated With UNS N06082 or UNS W86182 Weld Filler Material With or Without Application of Listed Mitigation Activities
Letter from D.M. Hoots to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, “Licensee Event Report (LER) 455-2007-001-00, ‘Reactor Pressure Vessel Head Control Rod Drive Mechanism Penetration Nozzle Weld Indication Due to an Initial Construction Weld Defect Allowing the Initiation of Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracking,” dated 8 June (2007)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society
About this paper
Cite this paper
Brimbal, D., Poling, G., Wood, D., Marion, A., Huin, N., Calonne, O. (2019). Application of Ultra-High Pressure Cavitation Peening on Reactor Vessel Head Penetration, BMN and Primary Nozzles. In: Jackson, J., Paraventi, D., Wright, M. (eds) Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems – Water Reactors. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04639-2_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04639-2_12
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-04638-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-04639-2
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)