Method of providing extended life expectancy for components of boiling water reactors

Abstract

A method of extending the life of components of newly constructed nuclear reactors or newly replaced components of existing reactors is taught. The method involves forming a deposit on the surfaces of metallic elements of the nuclear containment, as well as on the surfaces of internal components which are exposed to high-temperature, high-pressure water and steam. The deposit formed is a deposit of at least one member of the platinum group of metals. The deposit is formed by any of a number of conventional methods such as electroless deposition, electrochemical deposition, chemical vapor deposition, sputtering or other conventional method. In operation, this deposit facilitates the combination of hydrogen and oxygen to form water and thereby aids in reducing the electrochemical corrosion potential of the system to values below a critical potential range that prevents stress corrosion cracking.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.