Corrosion, contamination, and scale formation caused by impurities in water and steam in the nuclear power reactor cycles are major and costly problems of the US utility industry. Corrosion cracking and denting of the pressurized water reactor (PV;R) cycle steam generator tubes and stress corrosion of the boiling water reactor (BWR) piping and of turbine discs are a few examples of the corrosion problems. These problems can be avoided by proper control of impurities and water treatment additives (water chemistry). The key reason for these problems is a lack of proper interpretation of chemical analytical data and their communication to operators. Expert knowledge is often needed to determine the relationships between instrument readings and analytical results, operation, and ingress of chemical impurities. In this project, new computer-based tools such as artificial intelligence techniques will be developed, which will assist nuclear power station operators and chemists in decision making and control of water chemistry and operation. Software will be developed for the two common types of PWR cycles (recirculating and once-through), primary and secondary, and for BWRS. With one exception, all US utility nuclear cycles are of the PWR and BWR types. The software also will direct sampling and analytical procedures and store and present analytical and related operation data. It will be capable of accepting feedback and updating its interpretation process (learn). The computer techniques and the expert knowledge of the nuclear cycles are already available to this project. When completed, it could allow every nuclear power station to be operated using an expert approach.Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee:The software developed in this project will be applicable to all nuclear power stations in the United States. It will communicate and interpret water and steam chemistry data and allow operators to optimize operation and quickly identify chemical and corrosion problems and sources of impurities. This will reduce corrosion and contamination, operating and maintenance costs, radiation exposure, and waste disposal problems.
