Implications of Steam Generator Fouling on the Degradation of Material and Thermal Performance

Fouling of steam generators has a significant negative impact on the material and thermal performance the steam generators of pressurized water reactors. Corrosion products that originate from various components in the steam cycle of a nuclear power plant get pumped forward with the feed water to steam generators where they deposit on the tube bundle, tube support structure and the tube sheet. Heavy accumulation of deposit within the steam generator has led to some serious operational problems, including loss of thermal performance, under deposit corrosion, steam generator level oscillations, flow accelerated corrosion of carbon steel tube support plates and the failure of steam generator tubes due to high cycle fatigue. This paper will review the factors affecting steam generator fouling, examine the relationship between fouling and degradation of the thermal and material performance of steam generators and investigate the effectiveness of remedial measures to mitigate fouling.