Embrittlement management

Pipelines represent the primary option for the most efficient transportation mode in a hydrogen energy environment. Pipeline is the most economical option for transportation however, the embrittlement of steels and diffusion losses represents a technical challenge. Sensor technologies for continued integrity management of such a pipeline network will be critical in the development of the hydrogen economy. 

Integrity management processes should take into account the embrittlement effects of dry hydrogen gas on carbon steel pipeline materials and welds used to join pipe sections. 

Note that also WWER operational safety issues such as embrittlement and accident assessment and management are mentioned. 

Odette G R, Yamamoto T, Eason E D and Nanstad R K, On the metallurgical and irradiation variable dependence of the embrittlement of RPV steels Converging physically based predictions and critical unresolved issues , Proc. Research for Aging Management of Light Water Reactors and Its Future Trend, 22-23 October, 2007, Fukui, Japan, Institute of Nuclear Safety System, Inc, Paper No. 16. 

N. Soneda, K. Dohi, A. Nomoto, K. Nishida and S. Ishino, Microstructural analysis of RPV materials and development of mechanism-guided embrittlement correlation method , Proc International Symposium on Research for Aging Management of Light Water Reactors, B.L. Eyre and I. Kimura, eds, INSS, Fukui, 2008. 

T.J. Williams, K. Wilford, G.R. Odette and T. Yamamoto, A new model of irradiation hardening in low copper RPV steels from stable matrix damage, IAEA Technical Meeting on Irradiation Embrittlement and Life Management of Reactor Pressure Vessels in Nuclear Power Plants, Znojmo, Czech Repnblic, 18-22, October, 2010. 

Asahi Chemical Industry Co. Ltd., Seiichiro, T., and Nakahara, M., Nondestructive Evaluation of Hydrogen Absorption Embrittlement of Tantalum and Life Management in Chemical Plant, "Reactive Metals Conference Proceedings, Sunriver OR, 1999. 

Refinery management, 524-525 Refinery metallurgy, 415-429 metals used in refinery service, 415-416 stainless steel nomenclature, 416-418 corrosion resistance, 417, 419—426 embrittlement dangers, 426 rigorous service, 426-427 heat-exchanger tube fouling, 428 troubleshooting problems, 428... 

To sum-up, the accumulated experience has demonstrated conclusively that breaches are benign events and has provided the data base for reactor operators to define their own criteria for managing such events depending on their specific circumstances. However, these optimistic considerations have to be confirmed for the highest target bum-up and exposure levels, taking into account the potential embrittlement of cladding materials as dose increases. 

Must manage lower temperatures to avoid radiation hardening, embrittlement Coolant may need to be ultra-clean or vessel coated to avoid interstitial embrittlement... 

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