Electrode Systems

Precision Solutions for Optimal Reactor Performance.

Studsvik delivers advanced electrode systems designed for critical applications in both boiling water reactors (BWRs) and pressurized water reactors (PWRs). With a proven track record, our systems are engineered to perform reliably in demanding environments of reactor main process lines. By providing accurate measurements of electrochemical corrosion potential (ECP) directly at reactor temperatures, our solutions help ensure the reliability and efficiency of nuclear operations.

In a BWR the electrode is used to monitor the electrochemical corrosion potential (ECP) in the primary circulation loop. The aim is to verify that a sufficiently low ECP is maintained on the system surfaces to suppress stress corrosion cracking (SCC) through hydrogen injection (HWC), typically combined with the addition of noble metal chemistry.

In PWRs, the application is located on the secondary side. The electrode system is installed in an existing sampling line as close as possible to the main feedwater line. The primary purpose of this installation is to verify that the ECP, and consequently the oxygen content, remains sufficiently low in the final feedwater before entering the steam generators. Even trace amounts of oxygen in the final feedwater, measured in parts per billion (ppb), can increase the ECP to levels that may lead to issues such as fouling in the steam generators. Due to the recombination of oxygen and added hydrazine, small oxygen ingress might go undetected if measurements are conducted using an oxygen sensor at the end of a long sampling line.