APPLICATION OF SUPER AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEELS IN SEAWATER-COOLED HEAT EXCHANGERS

摘要

Most of heat exchangers in nuclear power plants use sea water as its heat sink. However, sea water is a good electrolyte and contains high concentrations of chloride ions and dissolved oxygen. Therefore, we find that sea water is corrosive to most of heat exchanger materials and the cost for the results of corrosion is very high. Recently, discharges of domestic and industrial pollutants into the sea has resulted in a sharp increase in aggressive species in coastal waters. This causes problems in employing conventional materials. At the Korea Electric Power Research Institute(KEPRI), research has been conducted for several years to find the most reliable material for the heat exchangers. Super austenitic stainless steel with PRE higher than 50 has been chosen as the most reliable material that meets the requirements.