Pressure Sciences has worked with fossil power generation stations in assessing the impact of erosion/corrosion and Flow Accelerated Corrosion (FAC) in High Energy Piping systems. As a result of accidents where FAC was identified as a significant contributing cause, attention to this degradation and potential failure mechanism has increased significantly. EPRI has addressed this issue, primarily in nuclear generating stations, through the CHECMATE(TM) two-phase flow program, and more recently the significantly expanded CHECWORKS(TM) family of corrosion assessment programs. These tools require substantial investment in terms of man-hours by the Owner to properly implement, which generally place them outside the reasonable total-cost range for fossil stations.

However, EPRI has developed, and is close to releasing for production, a streamlined version of these programs specifically for fossil station application. This program is named CHECUP(TM). It will evaluate and prioritize the highest risk locations for FAC, in order that the plant owner can implement monitoring and perform NDE, such as wall thickness baseline and periodic mapping. Pressure Sciences personnel have attended the formal training provided by EPRI for the use and implementation of CHECUP. We are, therefore, both available and qualified to support our clients in the planning and implementation of this program at their fossil generating stations. Of course, as consultants, we cannot own the EPRI software ourselves, but are eligible to use it when provided on a project specific basis by the Utility. Generally, EPRI programs, including CHECUP, are available to member utilities at no cost, and may be procured by nonmember utilities at a nominal cost.

Specific questions concerning the use, applicability, and basis of any of the CHEC family of programs should be referred to EPRI in Palo Alto, CA. Information on CHECWORKS was obtained from the EPRI Web Site at www.epri.com/npg/products/checworks.html

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