In
case of KAPS and KGS, different ingots were used for manufacturing the
coolant channels. Due to difference in the creep related material
properties of different ingots, the coolant channels in these reactors
experienced different creep rate. Due to the differential creep rates,
especially in the neighboring channels, the coolant channels came into
contact with each other. This is a serious deviation from as installed
conditions wherein the gaps and spacing between closely assembled
coolant channel components are decided based on accurate assessment of
known loads and forces. Differential creep results in closing of gaps
between neighboring feeder pipes or between feeder pipe and gray-loc
clamp. Depending on the orientation of the clamp and direction of the
feeder pipe at that location, worst contact could be between the first
elbow of feeder pipe and the sharp edge of the crown nut on clamp.
Several such contacts have been detected in KAPS and KGS. Seriousness of
the contact emerges from the fact that the coolant channel and the
feeder pipes vibrate due to coolant flow with high velocity. With time
the contact conditions like the contact force and location(s) of contact
change and this has significant influence on the life and performance of
the coolant channel as a whole. Since feeder pipes are constantly
vibrating, the contacting locations are likely to be dented or damaged. Whenever and wherever possible, NPCIL has tried to remove the contact locally. Since the process of creep is ongoing,
more and more feeder pipes are likely to come in contact and those in which the local corrections for removing the contact are
made
could also need correction as the time progresses. In order to assess
the severity of damage, a full scale setup was erected. Contact was
established between feeder pipe and the hard locking nut of gray-loc
clamp. Based on previous vibration data collected from feeder pipes and
end fittings, and the ASME`s O&M guidelines on acceptable level of
piping vibration in nuclear piping, vibration was induced in the contacting feeder pipes. The test was continued for more than 1007 cycles. On the basis of
damage seen on the feeder pipe due to contact, R6 method has been employed to determine the critical crack size in the feeder
pipe
with a postulated axial part-through semi-elliptical crack. The failure
assessment diagram was constructed in the K-L plane. The lowest
critical crack depth was calculated as 4.67 mm as against observed depth
of dent of 1.1 mm. The paper deals with the critical assessment of
contact between neighboring coolant channels caused by differential
creep and assessment of safety margin available before corrective action
need to be initiated.