METHOD FOR INTRA-LOOP PASSIVATION OF STEEL SURFACES OF NUCLEAR REACTOR Russian patent published in 2015 - IPC G21C1/03 

FIELD: physics, atomic power.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to nuclear engineering and specifically to a method for intra-loop passivation of steel surfaces. The method includes installing a core simulator which is a model of a core, which simulates the shape of the core, mutual arrangement of elements of the core, as well as weight characteristics thereof, at a location intended for installation of a standard core. Further, the method includes filling the reactor with a heavy liquid-metal coolant, heating the coolant to a temperature which provides passivation conditions and performing intra-loop passivation in two steps. The first step includes an isothermic passivation mode while observing conditions defined for said step, and the second step includes non-isothermic passivation conducted at other conditions. The core simulator is then removed and replaced with a standard core.

EFFECT: method provides corrosion resistance of surfaces of steel elements in the medium of a heavy liquid-metal coolant and enables to reduce the maximum oxygen uptake rate at the initial period of operation of a nuclear reactor.

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