INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF WET, CHLORIDE-BEARING, THERMAL INSULATION AUSTENITIC STEEL PIPE

In the latter phases of construction of the nuclear-powered merchant ship, the NS Savannah, pressurization tests of the primary system were begun. After the primary system was hydrostatically tested, the piping was insulated so that the temperature of the system could be raised for the hot-flushing operation. Since the system was still under inspection for leak tightness, all joints and areas of potential leaks were left uninsulated. Because the insulating operation was not complete, the insulation had not been waterproofed. In the course of the hot-flushing operation, several leaks developed in the primary system, including a valve gasket failure. As a result of these events, the insulation was wet with high-purity water in several locations within the reactor containment compartment. Since it was known that the thermal insulation applied to the primary system piping contained chlorides and that the primary system had been thermally cycled several times after the insulation had been wet, an investigation was initiated to determine whether the system had been damaged. It was found that the proper conditions existed for chloride stress-corrosion cracking of the austenitic stainless steel in the primary system. Laboratory investigation of a sample of pipe removed from the primary system indicated that chloride stress-corrosion cracking had begun but that the reaction had been interrupted before serious damage occurred.

• Corporate Authors:

  Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  Department of Energy
  Oak Ridge, TN  United States  37831

  Ebasco Services Incorporated

  Two Rector Street
  New York, NY  United States 
• Authors:
  • Schaffer, L D
  • Klapper, J A
• Publication Date: 1961-10-1

Media Info

• Pagination: 183 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Corrosion; Corrosion protection; Nuclear powered ships; Nuclear reactors; Safety
• Old TRIS Terms: Nuclear reactor safety
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00026437
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Contract Numbers: W-7405-eng-26
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 4 1973 12:00AM