Deposition of hematite particles on alumina seal faceplates of nuclear reactor coolant pumps - laboratory experiments and industrial feedback
Abstract
In the primary circuit of pressurized water reactors (PWR), the dynamic sealing system in reactor coolant pumps is ensured by mechanical seals whose ceramic parts are in contact with the cooling solution. During the stretch-out phase in reactor operation, characterized by low boric acid concentration, the leak-off flow has been observed to abnormally evolve in industrial plants. The deposition of hematite particles, originating from corrosion, on alumina seals of coolant pumps is suspected to be the cause. As better understanding of the adhesion mechanism is the key factor in the prevention of fouling and particle removal, an experimental study was carried out using a laboratory set-up. With model materials, hematite and sintered alumina, the adhesion rate and surface potentials of the interacting solids were measured under different chemical conditions (solution pH and composition) in analogy with the PWR ones. The obtained results were in good agreement with the Derjaguin-Landau-Verw...ey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory and used as such to interpret this industrial phenomenon.
Keywords:
Adsorption / fouling / zeta potential / pressurized water reactorSource:
Hemijska industrija, 2012, 66, 3, 291-299Funding / projects:
DOI: 10.2298/HEMIND110922101L
ISSN: 0367-598X
WoS: 000310493000001
Scopus: 2-s2.0-84865653403
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VinčaTY - JOUR AU - Lefevre, Gregory AU - Živković, Ljiljana AU - Jaubertie, Anne PY - 2012 UR - https://vinar.vin.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5132 AB - In the primary circuit of pressurized water reactors (PWR), the dynamic sealing system in reactor coolant pumps is ensured by mechanical seals whose ceramic parts are in contact with the cooling solution. During the stretch-out phase in reactor operation, characterized by low boric acid concentration, the leak-off flow has been observed to abnormally evolve in industrial plants. The deposition of hematite particles, originating from corrosion, on alumina seals of coolant pumps is suspected to be the cause. As better understanding of the adhesion mechanism is the key factor in the prevention of fouling and particle removal, an experimental study was carried out using a laboratory set-up. With model materials, hematite and sintered alumina, the adhesion rate and surface potentials of the interacting solids were measured under different chemical conditions (solution pH and composition) in analogy with the PWR ones. The obtained results were in good agreement with the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory and used as such to interpret this industrial phenomenon. T2 - Hemijska industrija T1 - Deposition of hematite particles on alumina seal faceplates of nuclear reactor coolant pumps - laboratory experiments and industrial feedback VL - 66 IS - 3 SP - 291 EP - 299 DO - 10.2298/HEMIND110922101L ER -
@article{ author = "Lefevre, Gregory and Živković, Ljiljana and Jaubertie, Anne", year = "2012", abstract = "In the primary circuit of pressurized water reactors (PWR), the dynamic sealing system in reactor coolant pumps is ensured by mechanical seals whose ceramic parts are in contact with the cooling solution. During the stretch-out phase in reactor operation, characterized by low boric acid concentration, the leak-off flow has been observed to abnormally evolve in industrial plants. The deposition of hematite particles, originating from corrosion, on alumina seals of coolant pumps is suspected to be the cause. As better understanding of the adhesion mechanism is the key factor in the prevention of fouling and particle removal, an experimental study was carried out using a laboratory set-up. With model materials, hematite and sintered alumina, the adhesion rate and surface potentials of the interacting solids were measured under different chemical conditions (solution pH and composition) in analogy with the PWR ones. The obtained results were in good agreement with the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory and used as such to interpret this industrial phenomenon.", journal = "Hemijska industrija", title = "Deposition of hematite particles on alumina seal faceplates of nuclear reactor coolant pumps - laboratory experiments and industrial feedback", volume = "66", number = "3", pages = "291-299", doi = "10.2298/HEMIND110922101L" }
Lefevre, G., Živković, L.,& Jaubertie, A.. (2012). Deposition of hematite particles on alumina seal faceplates of nuclear reactor coolant pumps - laboratory experiments and industrial feedback. in Hemijska industrija, 66(3), 291-299. https://doi.org/10.2298/HEMIND110922101L
Lefevre G, Živković L, Jaubertie A. Deposition of hematite particles on alumina seal faceplates of nuclear reactor coolant pumps - laboratory experiments and industrial feedback. in Hemijska industrija. 2012;66(3):291-299. doi:10.2298/HEMIND110922101L .
Lefevre, Gregory, Živković, Ljiljana, Jaubertie, Anne, "Deposition of hematite particles on alumina seal faceplates of nuclear reactor coolant pumps - laboratory experiments and industrial feedback" in Hemijska industrija, 66, no. 3 (2012):291-299, https://doi.org/10.2298/HEMIND110922101L . .