Stress-Corrosion Cracking of Admiralty Brass Condenser Tubes

Abstract

Failures occurred in admiralty brass condenser tubes in a nuclear plant cooled by freshwater. About 2500 tubes had to be replaced over a span of six years. Investigation (visual inspection, chemical analysis, water chemistry (for both intake and outfall), and corrosion products in the operating system and on test coupons exposed to the operating environment) supported the conclusion that the failure was caused by microbe-initiated SCC. No recommendations were made.