Milko Iovchev

Abstract

            During the discussion concerning the construction of the new nuclear power plant (NPP) in Bulgaria an important problem is arisen in connection with the cracks in the steam generators (SG) cold headers at Russian 1000 MWe PW and the costly replacement the damaged SG. In searching the reason for this “steam generators disaster” a critical assessment concerning this topic is made and hypothesis for its explanation is proposed. According to it the development and the propagation of the cracks is due to incorrect water chemistry of the secondary circuit of Russian NPPs and that is why the horizontal SG are the weak place of these plants.