Ultrasonic Enhancement of Chemical Cleaning of Steam Generators. Final Report (PWR)

摘要

This report presents the results of an investigation into the use of ultrasound to enhance the chemical cleaning of steam generator tube and support crevices. Primary attention was focused on a configuration with ultrasonic transducers in the downcomer region of the steam generator in conjunction with the EPRI Steam Generator Owners Group (SGOG) crevice solvent at 200 exp 0 F. The investigation consisted primarily of experiments conducted in facilities designed to simulate the geometry and acoustics of a steam generator. The largest facility holds approximately 1000 gallons of solvent and simulates a 40 exp 0 sector of a steam generator with two support plates. The testing demonstrated that ultrasonics is indeed an effective means of enhancing the crevice cleaning if sound levels sufficient to cause cavitation can be transmitted to the crevices. The effort focused on the coupling of the transducers to the wrapper plate, on the transmission of sound through the tube bundle, and on the determination of cavitation threshold levels. (ERA citation 08:035795)