Papers by Keyword: In-Service Inspection

Abstract: This chapter describes the cracking of stainless steel piping under Inter-granular Stress Corrosion Cracking (IGSCC) conditions using probabilistic fracture mechanics that predict the impact of in-service inspection (ISI) programs on the reliability of specific nuclear piping systems that have failed in service. The IGSCC is characterized by a single damage parameter, which depends on residual stresses, environmental conditions, and the degree of sensitization. The Probability of Detection (POD) curves and the benefits of in-service inspection in order to reduce the probability of the leak for nuclear piping systems subjected to IGSCC were discussed. The results show that an effective ISI requires a suitable combination of crack detection and inspection schedule. An augmented inspection schedule is recurred for piping with fast-growing crack to ensure that the inspection is done before the cracks reach critical sizes and that the use of a better inspection procedure can be more effective than a tenfold increase in the number of inspections of inferior quality.

Abstract: The risk- and condition-based dynamic inspection proposed to decrease losses and costs caused by accidents which is not only a decision-making and optimal method for inspection strategies, but is also a soft measurement system for fixed equipment safety status. In the risk- and condition-based dynamic inspection method, data collection is standardized to decrease the impact of personal factors on the data. Moreover, a procedure in which experts approve the data collected from plants is supplemented to amend error and supplement omission of data in time. A relevant inspection strategy is adopted based on the different damage types and its initiation and growth for the aspect of inspection decision-making. In the meantime, the cost-risk efficiency of the inspection is regarded as an objective function to optimize inspection strategies according to the risk status of equipment. Finally, a model is established to assess the frequency of in-service inspection and ensure equipment safety during the end of equipment life based on the fitted linear relationship between the corrosion rate and stress energy.

Abstract: The current in-service inspection (ISI) strategy for the nuclear piping in many countries consists of both the code requirements such as ASME B & PV Code Sec. XI and the country-specific regulatory requirements, so called as the enhanced ISI. The enhanced ISI reflects the operating experience of piping failure, while the ASME Code Sec. XI requirement is based on random sampling for the inspection points. In this study, a new strategy for ISI of nuclear piping was proposed based on piping failure frequency. This strategy basically reflects the operating experience because the piping failure frequency is based on the piping failure database. The new concept of minimum inspection rate was also introduced in this new ISI strategy. As pilot study, the new ISI strategy was applied to the Class 1 piping system such as reactor coolant system and safety injection system of Ulchin Unit 5 which is the 1,000 MWe Korean Standard PWR. The results from the proposed new strategy were compared to those from the ASME Code Sec. XI. The results show that the new ISI strategy reasonably reflects the operating experience. The results also show that the concept of the minimum inspection rate can compensate the unbalance in the number of inspection points between the very large differences in the piping failure frequency.

Abstract: In-service inspections (ISI) of pipes in the nuclear power plants are currently performed based on mandated requirements in the ASME Section XI, which is based on deterministic approach of the critical welds. The 20 years of ISI experience in U.S.A. has revealed less correlation between the critical welds and actual failures, and much conservatism in current ISI requirements. To reduce those problems, risk-informed ISI technology has been developed and proved to be useful. This paper presented a method for predicting piping failure probabilities in an application of risk-informed ISI, and analyzed the effect of input parameters on piping failure probabilities. Results generated using this approach revealed that the calculated failure probabilities can be sensitive to the different types of stressors, crack size distribution, inspection interval, etc..