BEYOND RPV DESIGN LIFE

摘要

A set of standard surveillance programs for monitoring the design life of reactor pressure vessels (up to 40 years of operation) has been analyzed. In view of the improved test methods and embrittlement evaluation procedures, the necessity has been shown of introducing modifications in the present surveillance programs aiming at a more precise reactor pressure vessel integrity evaluation facing a possible service life of 60 years. Service life predictions are performed for reactor pressure vessels, based on the available surveillance data, reconstituted Charpy specimens, and Master Curve testing.