Decrease of the corrosion products in water coolant - A basic method for increasing the efficiency and improving the safety of nuclear power plants

The corrosive behavior of oxidized steel in water to which inhibitors or oxygen have been added is studied. It is shown that preoxidation of steel makes it possible to decrease the amount of inhibitors or oxygen. The experiments have shown that the functional possibilities of an oxygen-neutral water regime can be expanded to achieve effective protection. The corrosion resistance of steel can be increased manyfold by managing the water chemistry correctly. Likewise, the concentration of corrosion products in the coolant and, correspondingly, their activation in the neutron flux of a nuclear reactor and the amount of radionuclides can be decreased.