Thermal Stratification Monitoring in Angra 2

NPP - Brazil

Miguel Cisternas
ELETRONUCLEAR

Nuclear Plant Fatigue Applications Workshop, January 21-23, 2009, Charlotte, NC

 ELETRONUCLEAR - BRAZIL

PWR PWR
4 LOOPS 2 LOOPS
1350 MW 657 MW
NSSS VENDOR: NSSS VENDOR:
SIEMENS/KWU Angra 2 Angra 1 WESTINGHOUSE
About 5,6 EFPY About 11,5 EFPY

• Thermal Stratification Monitoring

(RHR, Feedwater, Excess Letdown)
Thermal Stratification • FatiguePro
Monitoring System
 THERMAL STRATIFICATION
The temperature difference between the hot water (top) and cold
water (bottom) in a piping is known as thermal stratification.

Hot Water
Pipe THOT

TCOLD
STRATIFIED PIPE

Cold Water
Thermal
Stratification: Thermal stresses increase (fatigue life is reduced )
Thermal
Stratification: : Cause increasing in piping displacements
THERMAL STRATIFICATION IN ANGRA 2 NPP
USNRC Bulletins 88-08/88-11 ”Ground Zero”

- Surge Line was analyzed considering the

phenomenon of thermal stratification.

- Operational experience shows that other piping

can operate with stratified pipes, who in certain
conditions can lead the piping to undergo fatigue.

- AREVA recommended in Angra 2, that a fatigue

monitoring system were implemented.

- Following this recommendation,

ELETRONUCLEAR developed a thermal
stratification monitoring system.
 TYPICAL THERMOCOUPLES CONFIGURATION
Two typical configurations are used in Angra 2:

Single Configuration Full Configuration

Angular position T2 (90º) Angular position T5 (90º)

• •
• Angular position T4 (45º)
• Angular position T3 (0º)
• Angular position T2 (315º)
• •
Angular position T1 (270º) Angular position T1 (270º)

The thermocouples are installed on the external

surface of the pipe, in several sections of the
piping, and have the function of determine the
operational transients
FULL CONFIGURATION OF THERMOCOUPLES AT
SURGE LINE OF ANGRA 2

Angra 2 Surge Line

 DATA ACQUISITION UNIT – FieldChart NOVUS
The FieldChart software allows to display the Field Logger's data
in digital and graphic format, in batches or in real time, and in
real time trend and historic trend views. The Microsoft Windows-
compatible software allows to zoom, superimpose and link
graphs, and print or export all data.
 MONITORING LOCATIONS in ANGRA 2 NPP

Temperature measurements locations are listed next

•Surgeline: 3 sections with 15 thermocouples (tc)

• Residual Heat Removal System: 8 sections with 19 tc
• Hot RCL : 2 sections with 7 tc
• Main Feedwater Line : 4 sections with 11 tc
• Auxiliary Feedwater Line: 4 sections with 8 tc

21 measurements sections with a total of

60 thermocouples
SUMMARY OF RESULTS OF THERMAL
STRATIFICATION IN ANGRA 2 NPP
THERMAL STRATIFICATION NOT SPECIFIED IN
ANGRA 2 NPP AT MAIN FEEDWATER LINE

The steam generator feedwater nozzle is connected

horizontally to the steam generator as shown next
 THERMAL STRATIFICATION NOT SPECIFIED IN
ANGRA 2 NPP AT MAIN FEEDWATER LINE
Measured performed during hot standby mode of
operation for a longer period of time due to repairs
plant conditions, captured thermal stratification that
was not specified in the existing thermodynamic
loading transients for the SG Nozzles of Angra 2
 MODES OF OPERATION OF ANGRA 2 NPP

Full Power Full Power

Hot Leg
Cold Leg

Hot Standby
THERMAL STRATIFICATION NOT SPECIFIED IN
ANGRA 2 NPP AT MAIN FEEDWATER LINE
THERMAL STRATIFICATION NOT SPECIFIED IN
ANGRA 2 NPP AT MAIN FEEDWATER LINE

Transient 1
240 ºC - 115 ºc
(464ºF - 239ºF)

Thermal
Stratification
ΔT= 115 ºC
(ΔT= 207 ºF)

Transient 2
115 ºC - 240 ºc
(239ºF - 464ºF)
THERMAL STRATIFICATION NOT SPECIFIED IN
ANGRA 2 NPP AT MAIN FEEDWATER LINE
Summary of Fatigue Analysis at Loop 4
of Main Feedwater Line
at section close to the Steam Generator Nozzle
 CONCLUSIONS
Thermal Stratification of the Main Feedwater Line
occur while the plant is starting up or cooling down,
or when the plant is in hot standby mode of operation.

Besides global thermal stratification (unexpected

movement), Angra 2 discovered cyclic thermal
stratification (pipe cracks), acting simultaneously at
Main Feedwater Line. This kind of thermal
stratification was not specified in the existing
thermodynamic loading transients for the Main
Feedwater Line.

In order to reduce the effects of the thermal

stratification at the Main Feedwater Line, which can
result in a large fatigue and a short load life, Angra 2
is now, limiting the hot standby mode of operation.