Intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) in boiling water reactor (BWR) recirculating water piping systems can be controlled by sufficient hydrogen addition to the feedwater to reduce the piping electrochemical potential (ECP) to less than -230 millivolts, SHE. Actual practice has shown that different BWR plants often manifest significantly different ECP responses to a given rate of hydrogen addition. There is no means for quantitatively predicting this behavior; therefore, continuous ECP monitoring has been recommended to assure the desired level of IGSCC protection is maintained.

In support of this recommendation, proposed guidelines for implementation of ECP monitoring systems in BWRs have been developed under the auspices of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The guidelines incorporate plant and laboratory experience and define design and installation criteria for sampling and sample lines, reference and measuring electrodes, and data acquisition.

Subject
Water, Materials, Piping, Boiling water reactors, Piping systems, Hydrogen concentration, Recirculation, Autoclaves, Reference electrodes, Platinum, Oxygen, Electrodes, Hydrogen
© 1990 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1990
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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