A Numerical Study on Flow-Accelerated Corrosion in Two Adjacent Elbows

Abstract

Flow-Accelerated Corrosion (FAC) is a well-known degradation mechanism that attacks the secondary piping in nuclear power plants. Since the Surry Unit 2 event in 1986, most nuclear power plants have implemented management programs to deal with damages in carbon and low-alloy steel piping. Despite the utmost efforts, damage induced by FAC still occurs in power plants around the world. In order to predict FAC wear, some computer programs were developed such as CHECWORKS, CICERO, and COMSY. Various data need to be input to these programs; the chemical composition of secondary piping, flow operating conditions and piping geometries. CHECWORKS, developed by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), uses a geometry code to calculate geometry effects. Such a relatively simple geometry code is limited in acquiring the accuracy of FAC prediction. Recently, EPRI revisited the geometry code with the intention of updating it. In this study, numerical simulations were performed for two adjacent 90 degrees elbows and the results were analysed in terms of the proximity effect between the two adjacent elbows.