Risk Assessment of Mediterranean Sea Waters on Cooling System of Nuclear Power Plant

M S Tawfik,F S Tawfik

doi:10.4236/jep.2019.106044

Abstract

The study evaluated the impacts such as corrosion and scale formation which may result from, using the once-through pass cooling system of a suggested nuclear power at different selected coastal regions of Alexandria coast. (Abu-Qir, Sidi Kerrir, Estern Harbour, El Max and Sidi Abd Elrhaman). The study had used The Langelier Saturation Index (LSI), which is a measure of a solution’s ability to dissolve or deposit calcium carbonate, which is often used as an indicator of the corrosivity of water. Like the Langelier saturation index, the Ryznar stability index (RSI) is also used to predicate the formation of scale and also the tendency for corrosion due to the concentration of calcium carbonate in the selected water system. Both of the two indexes ((LSI) and (RSI)) had been used to evaluate the internal environmental impact which may be occurred when used once-through pass system is as a cooling method of a coastal pressurized water reactor power plant. The study results showed that the calculated LSI and RSI values for selected regions indicated that, there was a low tendency for scale formation and possibility of corrosion at these selected study areas, so using nickel copper alloys in condenser is recommended to prevent any possibility of attack of corrosion besides the using of chemical treatment method of inlet cooling water system.

Highlights

The consideration of new nuclear power stations is split into two phases
The study results showed that the calculated Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) and Ryznar stability index (RSI) values for selected regions indicated that, there was a low tendency for scale formation and possibility of corrosion at these selected study areas, so using nickel copper alloys in condenser is recommended to prevent any possibility of attack of corrosion besides the using of chemical treatment method of inlet cooling water system
Fouling risk is another environmental impact on nuclear power plant from using sea water as a cooling system, as it is classified as the deposition of marine biological organisms on certain surface called marine bio-fouling or classified as a deposition of chemical compounds such as calcium silicates and calcium carbonates, forming what is called chemical fouling; on the other hand fouling may defined as chemical formation [4]

Summary

Introduction

The consideration of new nuclear power stations is split into two phases. The first phase addresses generic design matters (namely, acceptability of candidate nuclear power station designs) and the second deals with site-specific applications for permits under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010. On the other hand using once-through cooling pass may solve some of these problems such as water consumption, which Egypt government is concerned with and the rejection of thermal discharges from cooling towers [3]. Fouling risk is another environmental impact on nuclear power plant from using sea water as a cooling system, as it is classified as the deposition of marine biological organisms on certain surface called marine bio-fouling or classified as a deposition of chemical compounds such as calcium silicates and calcium carbonates, forming what is called chemical fouling; on the other hand fouling may defined as (inorganic or organic) chemical formation [4]. The possibility of fouling formation in seawater medium is increasing due to the increasing of TDS, Alkalinity, salinity and Ca-hardness concentrations, leading to formation of hard insulating layer inside the condensed tubes that cause a problem in heat transfer process in the selected cooling water system [5] [6] [7]

Objectives

Methods

Results