Flow-Induced Vibration Analysis of an Integral Economizer Once-Through Steam Generator

The integral economizer once-through steam generator is a second-generation steam generator used in B&W’s 205-fuel assembly nuclear power plants. Besides having an integral economizer, this steam generator differs from the first generation units, sixteen of which have been operating with B&W’s 177 fuel assembly nuclear power plants for more than ten years, in having a much higher flow rate. This higher flow rate induces a correspondingly higher fluid-dynamic load on all of the steam generator internal components, particularly the tube bundle. This paper describes the flow-induced vibration design analysis of this second-generation nuclear steam generator. The three most commonly known flow-induced vibration phenomena were considered: fluid-elastic instability, turbulence-induced vibration and vortex-induced vibration. To minimize uncertainties in the many experimentally determined input parameters such as damping ratios, Connors’ constant and the dynamic pressure power spectral densities, a parallel analysis was carried out on the operating first-generation steam generator, and the results compared. The analytical results were verified by the recent start-up of B&W’s first 205-fuel assembly nuclear plant. No vibration problems were encountered during either the pre-operational test or in several months of full power operations.