REAL-TIME CORROSION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CATHODIC PROTECTION OF BURIED PIPES FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

Since the operation period of nuclear power plants has increased, the degradation of buried pipes graduallyincreases and recently it seems to be one of the emerging issues. Maintenance on buried pipes needs highquality of management system because outer surface of buried pipe contacts the various soils but innersurface reacts with various electrolytes of fluid. In the USA, USNRC and EPRI have tried to manage thedegradation of buried pipes. However, there is little knowledge about the inspection procedure, test andmanage program in the domestic nuclear power plants. This paper focuses on the development and build-upof real-time monitoring and control system of buried pipes. Pipes to be tested are tape-coated carbon steelpipe for primary component cooling water system, asphalt-coated cast iron pipe for fire protection system,and pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipe for sea water cooling system. A control system for cathodic protectionwas installed on each test pipe which has been monitored and controlled. For the calculation of protectionrange and optimization, computer simulation was performed using COMSOL Multiphysics (Altsoft co.). KCI Citation Count: 4