Structural Alloys for Power Plants: Operational Challenges and High-Temperature Materials (Woodhead Publishing Series in Energy)

Current fleets of conventional and nuclear power plants face increasing hostile environmental conditions due to increasingly high temperature operation for improved capacity and efficiency, and the need for long term service. Additional challenges are presented by the requirement to cycle plants to meet peak-load operation. This book presents a comprehensive review of structural materials in conventional and nuclear energy applications. Opening chapters address operational challenges and structural alloy requirements in different types of power plants. The following sections review power plant structural alloys and methods to mitigate critical materials degradation in power plants. Read more... Light water reactors (LWRs) are the predominant class of nuclear power reactors in operation today; however, ageing and degradation can influence both their performance and lifetime. Knowledge of these factors is therefore critical to safe, continuous operation. Materials ageing and degradation in light water reactors provides a comprehensive guide to prevalent deterioration mechanisms, and the approaches used to handle their effects.

Part one introduces fundamental ageing issues and degradation mechanisms. Beginning with an overview of ageing and degradation issues in LWRs, the book goes on to discuss corrosion in pressurized water reactors and creep deformation of materials in LWRs. Part two then considers materials’ ageing and degradation in specific LWR components. Applications of zirconium alloys in LWRs are discussed, along with the ageing of electric cables. Materials management strategies for LWRs are then the focus of part three. Materials management strategies for pressurized water reactors and VVER reactors are considered before the book concludes with a discussion of materials-related problems faced by LWR operators and corresponding research needs.

With its distinguished editor and international team of expert contributors, Materials ageing and degradation in light water reactors is an authoritative review for anyone requiring an understanding of the performance and durability of this type of nuclear power plant, including plant operators and managers, nuclear metallurgists, governmental and regulatory safety bodies, and researchers, scientists and academics working in this area.

• Introduces the fundamental ageing issues and degradation mechanisms associated with this class of nuclear power reactors
• Considers materials ageing and degradation in specific light water reactor components, including properties, performance and inspection
• Chapters also focus on material management strategies

Reactor Pressure Vessels (RPVs) contain the fuel and therefore the reaction at the heart of nuclear power plants. They are a life-determining structural component: if they suffer serious damage, the continued operation of the plant is in jeopardy. This book critically reviews irradiation embrittlement, the main degradation mechanism affecting RPV steels, and mitigation routes for managing the RPV lifetime.

Part I reviews RPV design and fabrication in different countries, with an emphasis on the materials required, their important properties, and manufacturing technologies. Part II then considers RVP embrittlement in operational nuclear power plants using different reactors. Chapters are devoted to embrittlement in light-water reactors, including WWER-type reactors and Magnox reactors. Finally, Part III presents techniques for studying embrittlement, including irradiation simulation techniques, microstructural characterisation techniques, and probabilistic fracture mechanics.

Irradiation Embrittlement of Reactor Pressure Vessels (RPVs) in Nuclear Power Plants provides a thorough review of an issue that is central to the safety of nuclear power generation. The book includes contributions from an international team of experts, and will be a useful resource for nuclear plant operators and managers, relevant regulatory and safety bodies, nuclear metallurgists and other academics in this field

• Discusses reactor pressure vessel (RPV) design and the effect irradiation embrittlement can have, the main degradation mechanism affecting RPVs
• Examines embrittlement processes in RPVs in different reactor types, as well as techniques for studying RPV embrittlement
Reactor Pressure Vessels (RPVs) contain the fuel and therefore the reaction at the heart of nuclear power plants. They are a life-determining structural component: if they suffer serious damage, the continued operation of the plant is in jeopardy. This book critically reviews irradiation embrittlement, the main degradation mechanism affecting RPV steels, and mitigation routes for managing the RPV lifetime. Part I reviews RPV design and fabrication in different countries, with an emphasis on the materials required, their important properties, and manufacturing technologies. Part II then considers RVP embrittlement in operational nuclear power plants using different reactors. Chapters are devoted to embrittlement in light-water reactors, including WWER-type reactors and Magnox reactors. Finally, Part III presents techniques for studying embrittlement, including irradiation simulation techniques, microstructural characterisation techniques, and probabilistic fracture mechanics. Irradiation Embrittlement of Reactor Pressure Vessels (RPVs) in Nuclear Power Plants provides a thorough review of an issue that is central to the safety of nuclear power generation. The book includes contributions from an international team of experts, and will be a useful resource for nuclear plant operators and managers, relevant regulatory and safety bodies, nuclear metallurgists and other academics in this field Discusses reactor pressure vessel (RPV) design and the effect irradiation embrittlement can have, the main degradation mechanism affecting RPVs Examines embrittlement processes in RPVs in different reactor types, as well as techniques for studying RPV embrittlement Small modular reactors (SMRs) are an advanced, safe type of nuclear reactor technology that are suitable for small and medium sized applications including both power and heat generation. In particular, their use as individual units or in combination to scale-up capacity offer benefits in terms of siting, installation, operation, lifecycle and economics in comparison to the development of larger nuclear plant for centralised electricity power grids. Interest has increased in the research and development of SMRs for both developing countries as well as such additional cogeneration options as industrial/chemical process heat, desalination and district heating, and hydrogen production. This book reviews key issues in their development as well as international R&D in the field.


• Gives an overview of small modular reactor technology
• Reviews the design characteristics of integral pressurized water reactors and focuses on reactor core and fuel technologies, key reactor system components, instrumentation and control, human-system interfaces and safety
• Considers the economics, financing, licensing, construction methods and hybrid energy systems of small modular reactors
• Describes SMR development activities worldwide, and concludes with a discussion of how SMR deployment can contribute to the growth of developing countries
Content: Part 1 Operational challenges and structural alloy requirements: Gas turbines; Steam turbines; Coal-fired steam turbines; Nuclear power plants. Part 2 Structural alloys and their development: Austenitic steels and alloys; Feritic and martensitic steels; Structural materials containing nanofeatures; Creep-resistant steels and alloys; Advanced alloys to improve resistance to corrosion and stress corrosion cracking; Design and material issues to improve fracture and fatigue resistance; Irradiation effects on metals and alloys: Mechanisms and remediation; Advanced alloys to resolve welding problems in power plants; Modelling creep in nickel-based alloys in high temperature power plants. Abstract: This book presents a comprehensive review of the issues, science and development of structural materials in core conventional and nuclear energy applications. Read more... "Light water reactors are the predominant class of nuclear power reactors in operation today. However, ageing and degradation can influence both the performance and lifetime of components. Knowledge of these factors is therefore critical to the provision of safe, continuous operation, and Materials ageing and degradation in light water reactors provides a comprehensive guide to prevalent deterioration mechanisms, and the approaches used to handle their effects. Part one introduces fundamental ageing issues and degradation mechanisms. Part two then considers materials ageing and degradation in specific light water reactor components, including properties, performance and inspection. Materials management strategies for light water reactors are then the focus of part three." (Source : diffuseur) This book critically reviews irradiation embrittlement, the main degradation mechanism affecting RPV steels, and mitigation routes for managing the RPV lifetime. It provides a thorough review of an issue that is central to the safety of nuclear power generation. Topics include: design and fabrication in different countries, with an emphasis on the materials required, their important properties, and manufacturing technologies; RVP embrittlement in operational nuclear power plants using different reactors; embrittlement in light-water reactors, including WWER-type reactors and Magnox reactors; techniques for studying embrittlement, including irradiation simulation techniques, microstructural characterisation techniques, and probabilistic fracture mechanics. -- Edited summary from book Annotation The reactor pressure vessel (RPV) is central to a nuclear reactor. The main degradation mechanism affecting RPVs is irradiation embrittlement, where neutron bombardment from the nuclear reaction displaces atoms in the RPV steels. Inspection, testing, and appropriate maintenance are therefore required to ensure any damage is mitigated and to allow the plant to continue generating power. The editor, Naoki Soneda (CREIPI, Japan), with contributions from academics and industry practitioners, discusses RPV design, embrittlement processes in RPVs in different reactor types, and techniques for studying RPV embrittlement