Areva has developed what it says is a ground-breaking, innovative technology to prevent the corrosion of the secondary systems in nuclear power plants through the application of a protective film on the inner surfaces. This solution is intended to reinforce the long-term reliability of these structures and contribute to extending the duration of reactor operations.
Known as film forming amines (FFA), the application of the film creates a continuous layer between water and the system's metal, preventing contact with corrosive agents, significantly reducing the development of damaging corrosive by-products within the secondary loop of the nuclear reactor.
It is siad to be simple to apply and offers operators greater flexibility compared to traditional methods, notably during outages. The film, particularly resistant to elevated temperatures, also protects components when exposed to air during planned maintenance shutdowns. The technology can be adapted to different plant designs and has already been proved at several nuclear power
plants worldwide.
"The application of film forming amines preserves the entire secondary system in only one step, improving its overall resistance," said Philippe Samama, executive vice-president of Areva's Reactors & Services Business Group. "As part of our Forward Alliance programme, we have developed this state-of-the-art solution to provide our customers with a way to prolong the life of these components,integral to nuclear power plant operations."
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