Open AccessExternal corrosion of tanks 8D-1 and 8D-2. Final report
Author(s) -
D.B. Mackey,
R.E. Westerman
Publication year - 1995
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/195774
Subject(s) - perlite , brick , aeration , corrosion , environmental science , storage tank , water tanks , carbon steel , waste management , metallurgy , environmental engineering , materials science , engineering , composite material
Tanks 8D-1 and 8D-2 at the West Valley Nuclear Services (WVNS) site, West Valley, New York, rest on layers of perlite brick contained within steel pans. The pans tend to collect water, which can contact the tanks directly and which also can be ``wicked`` to the external surfaces of the tank through the perlite brick. The presence of air in the tank vault is conducive to the formation of oxygen concentration cells, which can promote localized corrosion of the carbon steel tank wall. Pacific Northwest Laboratory conducted an experiment to estimate the extent to which the external surfaces of the tanks could have corroded in the 30 years since their construction. Specimens of carbon steel, similar to that used in the tank construction, were partially embedded in an upright position in particulate perlite in closed containers. The water line in the containers.was maintained at two levels: above the perlite level (high water level tests) and below the bottoms of the specimens (low water level tests). The water used in the tests was obtained from the pan of tank 8D-1. The containers were maintained in an aerated condition. Specimens were examined after 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, 24-, and 30-month exposures