Materials Ageing in Light-Water Reactors (eBook)

This book is an extensive and detailed guide to the subject of materials ageing in light-water nuclear reactors. Proper management of materials degradation is essential for the safe, reliable, and economic operation of nuclear power plants across the globe. This handbook features a stunning and thorough observational treatment of the key materials degradational phenomena in light-water reactors, capturing the results of some typical destructive examinations that have been carried out to understand and furthermore mitigate these failures. It provides a comprehensive collection of unique photographs, detailed schematics, concise analyses, as well as precise measurements and expert recommendations. It is organized in such a manner that engineers and scientists can use the observations presented to not only arrive at their own conclusions but also subsequently improve their knowledge of specific materials ageing issues.

François Cattant graduated in chemical engineering in 1974 and joined Electricity of France (EDF) in 1975 as a chemical engineer in the Plant Operation Division working on the water and steam conditioning of power plants. Two years later, he moved to the hot laboratory at the Chinon Nuclear Power Plant to examine failures and do root cause analysis of gas-cooled reactor components, including fuel. In 1980, he became the manager of a regional section for water and steam chemistry, chemical cleaning and non-destructive examination in fossil stations. He returned to the Chinon hot laboratory 3 years later where he continued to focus on failure root cause analysis of irradiated or contaminated components, monitoring of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) irradiation programs, examination of steam generator tubes, RPV head penetrations, split pins, pressurizer nozzles, valves, reactor cooling system cast elbows, piping, fuel bundle and rods, rod cluster control assemblies, and much more.