Probabilistic fracture analysis for boiling water reactor vessels considering seismic loads during decommissioning transition period. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chou, Hsoung-Wei; Chang, Ching-Hsin
• Is Part Of: Annals of nuclear energy. Volume 167(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: Probabilistic fracture mechanics -- Reactor pressure vessel -- Decommissioning transition period -- Seismic loads -- Equivalent internal pressure; Nuclear energy -- Periodicals; Nuclear engineering -- Periodicals; 621.4805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2021.108827
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4549

Abstract

Highlights: PFM method is used to evaluate the fracture risk of decommissioning BWR vessels subjected to seismic loads. The manner using equivalent internal pressure to simulate the driving forces caused by seismic loads is proposed. Circumferential shell welds dominate the fracture risk for a shutdown RPV. Present result demonstrates the feasibility of ISI relief on shell welds of RPV during decommissioning transition period. Abstract: During decommissioning transition period, the hazards from internal pressurization and thermal transients to a reactor vessel can be eliminated, but the effects of seismic loads on vessel integrity may be of concern. In this paper, we employed the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL) FAVOR code to perform probabilistic integrity assessment for the Taiwan domestic boiling water reactor (BWR) vessels of a decommissioning plant considering seismic loads. A manner to transform seismic loads as the equivalent internal pressure for FAVOR analysis was proposed. Two probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM) models, the conservative model that U.S. NRC has used for BWR regulation, and the realistic model reflecting the entire vessel beltline configuration, were analyzed and compared. It is found that the circumferential welds dominate the fracture risk but still can be negligible. Present results could be the reference for weld inspection relief application of the RPV during the decommissioning transition period in Taiwan.