The evaluation of erosion/corrosion problems of carbon steel piping in Taiwan PWR nuclear power plant

Taiwan Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR), Maanshan nuclear power plant Units 1 and 2 implemented measurements of the wall thinning of the carbon steel piping under the request of regulation authority to prevent the events due to erosion/corrosion since 1989. At first, the licensee established the comprehensive inspection program by itself. Over 2000 components were inspected per unit and 300–500 pipe components were examined by ultrasonic testing per scheduled outage. The simple predictive methodology determined the operability of each individual piping component in the next fuel cycle. Based on the inspection results, the susceptible pipe components were established. Implementation of effective correction management and an improved inspection program can improve the safety, as well as the efficiency, of long-term reactor operations.