Nuclear energy is one of the few areas that use the most and most science-intensive production technologies. Of course, we are not talking about "space things", NPPs are rather "mundane" organizations. Like any other enterprises, nuclear power plants use pipeline communications in their work. They will be discussed in this review.
Pipeline systems for nuclear power plants are a special branch of industry. The fact is that this type of rental should be maximally adapted to work in conditions:
- Huge temperatures
- High pressure
- Deadly Radiation
If for any other communications, concepts such as radiation swelling, helium embrittlement and hydrogen embrittlement are "transcendental concepts", then for pipeline systems of heat exchangers, superheaters and fuel elements, which are the basis of liquid metal reactors at nuclear power plants, these are the most standard concepts ... Let me remind you, you can buy metal rolling in Dnipro (Dnipropetrovsk) at retail at the most reasonable prices for you.
If, in the same fuel elements (TVEL), we use ordinary rolled metal, which is used for the needs of municipal heat and gas supply, then we can see how, under the influence of colossal radiation of fast neutrons, these "hulks", half a meter in diameter, will bend into knots before our eyes. For those who do not know, TVEL is a system of pipes in which uranium oxide tablets or a uranium-plutonium oxide mixture are placed (when decaying, these substances release colossal flows of energy, which are converted into electricity we are used to).
What is included in the pipeline communications for nuclear power plants?
Pipes for nuclear power plants must be resistant to radiation swelling and gas embrittlement. Of course, there is no single standard for the creation of pipes for nuclear power plants. If in the USA they prefer pipe-line products from the Inconel 600 series (this is a material that consists of 60% nickel, 20% chromium and 14% ferum), then in Germany they use Inconel 800 (30% nickel, 20% chromium and 40% ferum). In other countries, the so-called "Zircoloi" are widespread, these are zirconium-based alloys.
It is generally accepted that the high content of nickel makes it possible to almost completely eliminate the negative effect of radiation on the structure of the pipe material. The higher the percentage of nickel in the pipes, the smaller the cross-section for interaction with fast neutrons the pipes will have, which means that pipeline communications will be able to last longer.
