Phase relations and fluid compositions in steam generator crevices: Final report

The purpose of this project was to infer chemical conditions inside the steam generator crevices of a nuclear power plant, particularly the composition and alkalinity of the crevice liquid. The water vapor pressure of very concentrated salt solutions and salt mixtures was measured at 317/sup 0/C. It was demonstrated that sodium acetate and other salts of organic acids can form superheated crevice liquids and that the activity of NaOH in these liquids will usually be buffered by silicate minerals in the crevice deposits. Different minerals may fix NaOH at different values, depending on the ion ratios inside the crevice. Values of NaOH that correspond to two buffering reactions involving quartz and sodium silicates were determined experimentally, and values for a variety of other buffering reactions were calculated using thermodynamic data. A thermodynamic model of superheated crevice liquids has been developed that allows us to calculate the activity of NaOH and other compounds in the crevice liquid. Experiments established that many organic materials that may be present in the secondary water will decompose at high temperature to produce acetate and other organic anions.