Simulation of corrosion processes in the closed system steel-water coolant

Methodology based on principles of neutron activation analysis is developed for simulation and study of steel corrosion in water coolants at thermal and nuclear power plants. Radionuclide generation directly in the steel samples at thermal neutron fluence not exceeding 10 19 n cm −2 and the corresponding calculated exposure time ensures identity of the chemical behavior of the radionuclides formed in the irradiated samples and of their stable isotopes and, at the same time, does not involve irreversible changes in the steel matrix structure. Owing to high sensitivity of methods based on activation analysis, the corrosion rate of pearlite steels in the initial stages of their contact with deionized (desalinated) water was determined reliably. The methods developed also allow monitoring of mass exchange processes in the steel-aqueous medium systems, simulating intracircuit processes. An additional advantage of the methods developed is the possibility of simultaneous monitoring of the behavior of not only iron (by 59 Fe and 55 Fe radionuclides), but also alloying elements (by 51 Cr, 54 Mn, 60 Co, etc.).