Abstract

If the Leak-Before-Break (LBB) concept is applicable to the nuclear piping design, it is not necessary to consider the dynamic effect due to pipe rupture. Therefore, the construction cost can be significantly reduced by eliminating unnecessary pipe whip restraints and jet impingement devices. The objective of this paper is to develop the Piping Evaluation Diagram (PED) for efficient application of LBB concept to piping system at an initial piping design stage. For this purpose, the 3-D finite element analyses were performed to evaluate the crack stability. And the stress-strain curve based on the pipe material tests were used to calculate the detectable leakage crack length. Finally, the present PED which was composed as a function of NOP load and allowable SSE load, was developed for an application of LBB concept to the safety injection and shutdown cooling line in Korean Next Generation Reactor (KNGR).

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