Fluidelastic Instability Modeling of Loosely Supported Multispan U-Tubes in Nuclear Steam Generators

2012 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marwan Hassan ◽  
Atef Mohany
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Complex Dynamics ◽  
Tube Bundle ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
Fretting Wear ◽  
Contact Ratio ◽  
Steam Generators ◽  
Fluidelastic Instability ◽  
Wear Damage

Steam generators in nuclear power plants have experienced tube failures caused by flow-induced vibrations. Two excitation mechanisms are responsible for such failures; random turbulence excitation and fluidelastic instability. The random turbulence excitation mechanism results in long-term failures due to fretting-wear damage at the tube supports, while fluidelastic instability results in short-term failures due to excessive vibration of the tubes. Such failures may require shutdowns, which result in production losses, and pose potential threats to human safety and the environment. Therefore, it is imperative to predict the nonlinear tube response and the associated fretting-wear damage to tubes due to fluid excitation. In this paper, a numerical model is developed to predict the nonlinear dynamic response of a steam generator with multispan U-tubes and anti-vibration bar supports, and the associated fretting wear due to fluid excitation. Both the crossflow turbulence and fluidelastic instability forces are considered in this model. The finite element method is utilized to model the vibrations and impact dynamics. The tube bundle geometry is similar to the geometry used in CANDU steam generators. Eight sets of flat-bar supports are considered. Moreover, the effect of clearances between the tubes and their supports, and axial offset between the supports are investigated. The results are presented and comparisons are made for the parameters influencing the fretting-wear damage, such as contact ratio, impact forces, and normal work rate. It is clear that tubes in loose flat-bar supports have complex dynamics due to a combination of geometry, tube-to-support clearance, offset, and misalignment. However, the results of the numerical simulation along with the developed model provide new insight into the flow-induced vibration mechanism and fretting wear of multispan U-tubes that can be incorporated into future design guidelines for steam generators and large heat exchangers.

A Numerical Characterization of Flow-Induced Vibration and Fretting Wear Potential in Nuclear Steam Generator Tube Bundles

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marwan Hassan ◽  
Atef Mohany
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Complex Dynamics ◽  
Fretting Wear ◽  
Contact Ratio ◽  
Flow Induced Vibration ◽  
Numerical Characterization ◽  
Wear Damage ◽  
Effect Of Support ◽  
Tube Failure

Nuclear power plants have experienced problems related to tube failures in steam generators. While many of these failures have been attributed to corrosion, it has been recognized that flow-induced vibrations contribute significantly to tube failure. In order to avoid these excessive vibrations, tubes are stiffened by placing supports along their length. Various tube/support geometries have been used, but the majority are either support plates (plates with drilled or broached holes) or flat bars. Unfortunately, clearance is often considered necessary between the tubes and their supports to facilitate tube/support assembly and to allow for thermal expansion of the tubes. A combination of flow-induced turbulence and fluidelastic forces may then lead to unacceptable tube fretting-wear at the supports. The fretting wear damage could ultimately cause tube failure. Such failures may require shut downs resulting in production losses, and pose potential threats to human safety and the environment. Therefore, it is imperative to predict the nonlinear tube response and the associated fretting wear damage to tubes due to fluid excitations. Tubes in loose flat-bar supports have complex dynamics due to the possible combinations of geometry. The understanding of tube dynamics in the presence of this type of support and the associated fretting wear is still incomplete. These issues are addressed in this paper through simulations of the dynamics of tubes subjected to crossflow turbulence and fluidelastic instability forces. The finite element method is utilized to model the vibrations and impact dynamics. The tube model simulates a U-tube supported by 16 flat bars with clearances and axial offset. Results are presented and comparisons are made for the parameters influencing the fretting-wear damage such as contact ratio, impact forces and normal work rate. The effect of support clearance and support axial offset are investigated.

scholarly journals Fouling Of Nuclear Steam Generators: Fundamental Studies, Operating Experience and Remedial Measures Using Chemical Additives

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.W. Turner
Keyword(s):  
Economic Performance ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Tube Bundle ◽  
Operating Experience ◽  
Feed Water ◽  
Chemical Additives ◽  
Steam Generators ◽  
Primary Coolant ◽  
And Performance

Fouling remains a potentially serious issue that if left unchecked can lead to degradation of the safety and performance of nuclear steam generators (SGs). It has been demonstrated that the majority of the corrosion product transported with the feed water to the SGs accumulates in the SG on the tube-bundle. By increasing the risk of tube failure and acting as a barrier to heat transfer, deposit on the tube bundle has the potential to impair the ability of the SG to perform its two safety-critical roles: provision of a barrier to the release of radioactivity from the reactor coolant and removal of heat from the primary coolant during power operation and under certain post accident scenarios. Thus, it is imperative to develop improved ways to mitigate SG fouling for the long-term safe, reliable and economic performance of nuclear power plants (NPPs). This paper provides an overview of our current understanding of the mechanisms by which deposit accumulates on the secondary side of the SG, how this accumulation affects SG performance and how accumulation of deposit can be mitigated using chemical additives to the secondary heat-transport system. The paper concludes with some key questions that remain to be addressed to further advance our knowledge of deposit accumulation and how it can be controlled to maintain safe, economic performance of nuclear SGs.

The Effect of Coating on the Fretting Wear Between Tubes and Supports in a Nuclear Steam Generator

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joong-Hui Lee ◽  
Jin-Sun Kim ◽  
Jung-Min Park ◽  
Bo-Ra Shin ◽  
Young-Ze Lee
Keyword(s):  
Steam Generator ◽  
Coating Thickness ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Hard Coatings ◽  
Fretting Wear ◽  
Tube Material ◽  
Flat Type ◽  
Wear Damage ◽  
Wear Tests

The steam generator in the nuclear power plants is a kind of heat exchanger, which is composed of bundles of long and slender pipes. The tubes are supported by anti-vibration bar to reduce the vibration, caused by the water flows for cooling purpose. The wear damage due to this vibration is called as the fretting wear, which should be minimized for the safe operation of plants. The hard coatings are very effective to reduce the amount of wear. In this paper, the coatings of TiN and CrN were deposited on the tube material to protect the fretting surfaces. The tube-on-flat type tester was used for fretting wear tests. The wear amounts of the coated tubes were decreased depending on coating thickness. CrN coating was very effective to reduce the wear. In case of TiN the wear amounts were dependent on the coating thickness. Thick coating of TiN was very effective for wear resistance.

Analyzing Droplet Size Distributions Inside a Self-Priming Venturi Scrubber for Filtered Containment Venting Systems

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Papadopoulos ◽  
T. Lind ◽  
H.-M. Prasser
Keyword(s):  
Droplet Size ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Tube Bundle ◽  
Droplet Size Distribution ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Design Element ◽  
Venturi Scrubber

After the accident in the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, the interest of adding Filtered Containment Venting Systems (FCVS) on existing nuclear power plants to prevent radioactive releases to the environment during a severe accident has increased. Wet scrubbers are one possible design element which can be part of an FCVS system. The efficiency of this scrubber type is thereby depending, among others, on the thermal-hydraulic characteristics inside the scrubber. The flow structure is mainly established by the design of the gas inlet nozzle. The venturi geometry is one of the nozzle types that can be found in nowadays FCVS. It acts in two different steps on the removal process of the contaminants in the gas stream. Downstream the suction opening in the throat of the venturi, droplets are formed by atomization of the liquid film. The droplets are contributing to the capture of aerosols and volatile gases from the mixture coming from the containment. Studies state that the majority of the contaminants is scrubbed within this misty flow regime. At the top of the venturi, the gas stream is injected into the pool. The pressure drop at the nozzle exit leads to the formation of smaller bubbles, thus increasing the interfacial area concentration in the pool. In this work, the flow inside a full-scale venturi scrubber has been optically analyzed using shadowgraphy with a high-speed camera. The venturi nozzle was installed in the TRISTAN facility at PSI which was originally designed to investigate the flow dynamics of a tube rupture inside a full-length scale steam generator tube bundle. The data analysis was focused on evaluating the droplet size distribution and the Sauter mean diameter under different gas flow rates and operation modes. The scrubber was operated in two different ways, submerged and unsubmerged. The aim was to include the effect on the droplet sizes of using the nozzle in a submerged operation mode.

Measurement of Flow-Induced Forces: A Single Flexible Tube in a Rigid Triangular-Pitch Bundle Subjected to Two-Phase Cross-Flow

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrico Deri ◽  
Joël Nibas ◽  
Olivier Ries ◽  
André Adobes
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Tube Bundle ◽  
Fluid Dynamic ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Maintenance Policy ◽  
Excitation Spectra ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Force Coefficients ◽  
Out Of Plane

Flow-induced vibrations of Steam Generator tube bundles are a major concern for the operators of nuclear power plants. In order to predict damages due to such vibrations, EDF has developed the numerical tool GeViBus, which allows one to asses risk and thereafter to optimize the SG maintenance policy. The software is based on a semi analytical model of fluid-dynamic forces and dimensionless fluid force coefficients which need to be assessed by experiment. The database of dimensionless coefficients is updated in order to cover all existing tube bundle configurations. Within this framework, a new test rig was presented in a previous conference with the aim of assessing parallel triangular tube arrangement submitted to a two-phase cross-flow. This paper presents the result of the first phase of the associated experiments in terms of force coefficients and two-phase flow excitation spectra for both in-plane and out-of-plane vibration.

scholarly journals Calculation of Potential Radiation Doses Associated with Predisposal Management of Dismantled Steam Generators from Nuclear Power Plants

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 5149
Author(s):  
Ga Hyun Chun ◽  
Jin-ho Park ◽  
Jae Hak Cheong
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Radiation Doses ◽  
Steam Generators ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Water Reactor ◽  
General Pathway ◽  
Heavy Water Reactor ◽  
Past Experiences

Although the generation of large components from nuclear power plants is expected to gradually increase in the future, comprehensive studies on the radiological risks of the predisposal management of large components have been rarely reported in open literature. With a view to generalizing the assessment framework for the radiological risks of the processing and transport of a representative large component—a steam generator—12 scenarios were modeled in this study based on past experiences and practices. In addition, the general pathway dose factors normalized to the unit activity concentration of radionuclides for processing and transportation were derived. Using the general pathway dose factors, as derived using the approach established in this study, a specific assessment was conducted for steam generators from a pressurized water reactor (PWR) or a pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) in Korea. In order to demonstrate the applicability of the developed approach, radiation doses reported from actual experiences and studies are compared to the calculated values in this study. The applicability of special arrangement transportation of steam generators assumed in this study is evaluated in accordance with international guidance. The generalized approach to assessing the radiation doses can be used to support optimizing the predisposal management of large components in terms of radiological risk.

scholarly journals A hybrid PSO-PID approach for trajectory tracking application of a liquid level control process

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Turker Tekin Erguzel
Keyword(s):  
Water Level ◽  
Pid Controller ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Control Process ◽  
Nonlinear Process ◽  
Reference Trajectory ◽  
Proportional Integral Derivative ◽  
Level Control ◽  
Steam Generators

Water level control is a crucial step for steam generators (SG) which are widely used to control the temperature of nuclear power plants. The control process is therefore a challenging task to improve the performance of water level control system. The performance assessment is another consideration to underline. In this paper, in order to get better control of water level, the nonlinear process was first expressed in terms of a transfer function (TF), a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller was then attached to the model. The parameters of the PID controller was finally optimized using particle swarm optimization (PSO). Simulation results indicate that the proposed approach can make an effective tracking of a given level set or reference trajectory.

Wear Transitions of Tube-Support Components for a Nuclear Steam Generator under Fretting Conditions

2006 ◽  
Vol 326-328 ◽  
pp. 1263-1266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung Hoon Jeong ◽  
Jung Min Park ◽  
Joong Hui Lee ◽  
Young Ze Lee
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Applied Load ◽  
Fluid Flows ◽  
Relative Displacement ◽  
Fretting Wear ◽  
Steam Generators ◽  
Flow Induced Vibration ◽  
Support Materials ◽  
Mild Wear ◽  
Inconel 690

Tubes in nuclear steam generators are held up by supports because the tubes are long and slender. Fluid flows of high-pressure and high-temperature in the tubes cause oscillating motions between tubes and supports. This is called as FIV (flow induced vibration), which causes fretting wear in contact parts of tube-support. The fretting wear of tube-support can threaten the safety of nuclear power plant. Therefore, a research about the fretting wear characteristics of tube-support is required. This work is focused on fretting wear transitions from mild wear to severe wear of tube-support materials by various loads and relative displacements. The transition is defined on the basis of the changes in wear amount. To investigate the transition, the fretting wear tester was contrived to prevent the reduction of relative displacement between tube and support by increasing the load. The tube and support materials were Inconel 690 and 409 SS, respectively. The results show that the transition of tube-support wear is caused by the changes of the dominant wear mechanism depending on the applied load and the relative displacement.

Fluidelastic Instability and Periodic Fluid Forces in a Normal Triangular Tube Bundle Subjected to Air-Water Flow

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Ricciardi ◽  
M. J. Pettigrew ◽  
N. W. Mureithi
Keyword(s):  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Tube Bundle ◽  
Fatigue Cracks ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Fretting Wear ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Steam Generators ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Fluid Forces ◽  
Void Fractions

Two-phase flow in power plant steam generators can induce tube vibrations, which may cause fretting-wear and even fatigue cracks. It is therefore important to understand the relevant two-phase flow-induced vibration mechanisms. Fluidelastic instabilities in cross-flow are known to cause the most severe vibration response in the U-bend region of steam generators. This paper presents test results of the vibration of a normal triangular tube bundle subjected to air-water cross-flow. The test section presents 31 flexible tubes. The pitch-to-diameter ratio of the bundle is 1.5, and the tube diameter is 38 mm. Tubes were flexible in the lift direction. Seven tubes were instrumented with strain gauges to measure their displacements. A broad range of void fractions (from 10% to 90%) and fluid velocities (up to 13 m/s) were tested. Fluidelastic instabilities were observed for void fractions between 10% and 60%. Periodic fluid forces were also observed. The results are compared with those obtained with the rotated triangular tube bundle, showing that the normal triangular configuration is more stable than the rotated triangular configuration.

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