Integrated Chemical Effects Test Project: Test #4 Data Report (NUREG/CR-6914, Volume 5)

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• Publication Information
• Abstract

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• NUREG/CR-6914, Volume 5

Publication Information

Manuscript Completed: August 2006
Date Published: December 2006

Principal Investigator: J. Dallman

Prepared by:
J. Dallman, B. Letellier, J. Garcia, J. Madrid, W. Roesch
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos, NM 87545

D. Chen, K. Howe
University of New Mexico
Department of Civil Engineering
Albuquerque, NM 87110

L. Archuleta, F. Sciacca
OMICRON Safety and Risk Technologies, Inc.
2500 Louisiana Blvd. NE, Suite 410
Albuquerque, NM 87110

B.P. Jain, NRC Project Manager

Prepared for:
Division of Fuel, Engineering and Radiological Research
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

NRC Job Code Y6999

Availability Notice

Abstract

A 30-day test was conducted in the Integrated Chemical Effects Test (ICET) project test apparatus. The test simulated the chemical environment present inside a pressurized water reactor containment water pool after a loss-of-coolant accident. The initial chemical environment contained 15.41 kg of boric acid, 8.47 kg of sodium hydroxide, 0.663 g of lithium hydroxide, and 212 mL of hydrochloric acid. An additional amount of sodium hydroxide (614 g) was added with the spray beginning at time zero and lasting until 30 minutes into the test. The test was conducted for 30 days at a constant temperature of 60°C (140°F). The materials tested within this environment included representative amounts of submerged and unsubmerged aluminum, copper, concrete, zinc, carbon steel, and insulation samples (80% calcium silicate and 20% fiberglass). Representative amounts of concrete dust and latent debris were also added to the test solution. Water was circulated through the bottom portion of the test chamber during the entire test to achieve representative flow rates over the submerged specimens. The test solution pH varied from 9.5 to 9.8 over the first two days, rose to 9.9 on Day 8, and then stayed between 9.7 and 9.9 for the remainder of the test. The test solution turbidity decreased to less than 3 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) after 24 hours. The turbidity continued to decrease and averaged 0.5 NTU over the last three weeks of the test. Observations of the test solution indicated that no chemical byproducts were visible in the water and no precipitation occurred as samples cooled from test temperature to room temperature. The appearance of the submerged metallic coupons was largely unchanged throughout the test. Post-test examinations showed very little weight changes and only minimal visible deposits on some coupons. The unsubmerged coupons exhibited some streaking, but little or no weight changes. The bottom of the tank was filled with reddish-brown sediment, but no gel-like deposits were present. The test solution remained clearly Newtonian for the entire test. Aluminum was detectable in the solution for only the first 24 hours.