2021 Volume 70 Issue 12 Pages 402-408
Seawater injection to the spent fuel pool has raised concerns over corrosion of fuel racks supporting fuel assemblies and pool liner serving as a boundary. Electrical conduction between the aluminum alloy racks and the stainless steel liner may cause galvanic corrosion of racks, at the same time, may inhibit corrosion of the liner with such the macro-cell effects. Boundary element analysis was performed to study such the macro-cell behaviors. With the highest conductivity and microbiological effects considered, a maximum corrosion increase of several mm/y was predicted for the ruck. However, lower conductivity significantly reduces galvanic corrosion. Thus, it has been verified quantitatively that decreased conductivity through water purification and microbiological control are effective in maintaining the soundness of the racks.
