Flow accelerated corrosion in piping components under single and two phase flow conditions

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Flow Accelerated Corrosion (FAC) is a serious safety and reliability problem facing aging power generation plants, especially nuclear power plants. This phenomenon results in the wear of large areas of piping that can lead to sudden and catastrophic failure. There are two mechanisms responsible for FAC: (i) an electrochemical phenomenon which depends on the chemical properties of the working fluid, and (ii) erosion of metal due to the relative motion of the working fluid and the metal surface. The objective of the proposed project is to investigate flow accelerated corrosion (FAC) in piping components. In particular, the hydrodynamic effects of single and two phase flow on FAC in two 90-degree elbows arranged back-to-back will be evaluated under a range of flow conditions. This configuration was chosen because elbows have been identified as most prone to FAC through on-line monitoring of piping systems in most power plants. Experiments will be performed for different back-to-back elbow separation distances and elbow arrangements for a range of inlet flow velocities and two-phase flow regimes. Both the flow and wear rates in the elbows will be characterized to elicit the principal flow mechanisms responsible for FAC. The project will be performed in collaboration with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). The results from this research project will provide information that can be used for better management of on-line monitoring of nulcear power plants for FAC by identifying the flow conditions and piping configurations that are most prone to FAC. It is envisaged by both partners that this project will be the start of a more comprehensive reserach program to better understand FAC in NPP that will lead to enhanced safety, reliability and economics of nuclear power plants.