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| EPRI Completes Materials Management Matrix for ESBWR |
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| Matrix information guides materials-related design improvements; AP1000 and EPR designs are next.
Operating plant experience can guide design improvements
for advanced light water reactors to better manage
materials performance issues. Implementing mitigation
or management technologies can significantly reduce
operating costs over the life of these new plants
by avoiding degraded conditions, facilitating more
efficient and accurate inspections, and reducing repair
and replacement costs. The Advanced Nuclear Technology
Program’s materials management initiative identifies
gaps and opportunities that, if addressed at appropriate
times in the life cycle of the new plants, will significantly
improve plant materials performance.
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In April
2008, EPRI published the Materials Management
Matrix for GE-Hitachi’s ESBWR design. This
matrix provides information guiding identification
and evaluation of materials issues, and identifies
mitigation and management opportunities from the
design phase through component fabrication and
plant construction to operations and maintenance.
In a series of tables, the ESBWR report prioritizes
58 gaps and opportunities to mitigate or manage
potential material degradation issues. The results
highlight two primary strategic materials performance
issues associated with advanced light water reactor
deployment: improved materials processing and
fabrication technologies that may retard initiation
of stress corrosion cracks; and a comprehensive
and integrated strategy for component nondestructive
evaluation, from pre-service inspections through
periodic in-service inspections.
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EPRI will develop similar Materials Management Matrix
products for the Westinghouse AP1000, AREVA EPR, GE-Hitachi
ABWR, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries US APWR designs.
The AP1000 and EPR projects should be completed by
December 2008.
The ESBWR Materials Management Matrix, EPRI Report
1016334, is available for download at EPRI.com.
Contact: Tom Mulford, 650-855-2766, tmulford@epri.com.
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