Nuclear Power Plant Heating Tube Sludge Significantly Reduced

A research team at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute is conducting an experiment on sludge attached to the steam generator heat transfer tubes.

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] Domestic researchers have developed a technology that can reduce sludge on the surface of steam generator heat transfer tubes in nuclear power plants by up to 68%.

On the 20th, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute announced that it had developed the country's first demonstration device simulating sludge adhesion on nuclear power plant steam generator heat transfer tubes and a hydrochemical technology to reduce sludge.

The research team identified the types of pH adjusters and pH values that minimize the amount of sludge adhering to the heat transfer tubes. To prevent corrosion on the surface of heat transfer tubes during nuclear power generation, a technology is used to maintain the cooling water inside the steam generator at an alkaline pH by adjusting its pH, and this technology maximizes the efficiency of that process.

Heat generated by nuclear fission in the reactor is transferred to the cooling water through the steam generator heat transfer tubes, producing steam to generate electricity. When sludge (sewage residue) adheres to the surface of the heat transfer tubes, heat transfer to the cooling water becomes difficult, and the sludge-covered areas gradually corrode, causing flow path blockage.

The research team developed a demonstration device simulating sludge formation inside the steam generator and used it to find the optimal combination of various pH adjusters and pH ranges. By using ammonia (pH 10) as a pH adjuster, the team reduced sludge by up to 68% compared to the conventional ethanolamine.

Dr. Dohang Heo of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute explained, "Reducing sludge formation on the heat transfer tube surfaces significantly will enhance the safety of operating nuclear power plants."

The research results were published in this month's issue of the nuclear energy journal 'Annals of Nuclear Energy.'

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