Corrosion and Corrosion Product Release in Neutral Feedwater

Abstract

The corrosion and corrosion products released from materials exposed to typical boiling water reactor (BWR) feedwater chemistries were determined over the temperature range of 38 to 204 C (100 to 400 F). The study included carbon steel, Type 304 stainless steel, and several common copper alloy feedwater heater tubing materials exposed to neutral pH, flowing high purity water of varying dissolved oxygen levels. It was found generally that for acceptable resistance to corrosion in power plant feedwater at neutral pH, copper base alloys can be used only with no oxygen; carbon steel can be used when the dissolved oxygen exceeds 15 ppb; stainless steel can be used regardless of the oxygen content.