Evaluation of a Numerical Analysis Model for the Transient Response of Nuclear Steam Generator Secondary Side to a Sudden Steam Line Break

2016 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong Chull Jo ◽  
Bok Ki Min ◽  
Jae Jun Jeong
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Analysis ◽  
Steam Generator ◽  
Steam Line ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Analysis Model ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Transient Thermal ◽  
Phase Change Heat Transfer ◽  
Secondary Side ◽  
Good Agreement

This paper presents an evaluation of the applicability of a numerical analysis model to the transient thermal-hydraulic response of steam generator (SG) secondary side to blowdown following a steam line break (SLB) at a pressurized water reactor (PWR). To do this, the numerical analysis model was applied to simulate the same blowdown situation as in an available experiment which was conducted for a simplified SG blowdown model, and the numerical results were compared with the measurements. As a result, both are in reasonably good agreement with each other. Consequently, the present numerical analysis model is evaluated to have the applicability for numerical simulations of the transient phase change heat transfer and flow situations in PWR SGs during blowdown following a SLB.

Transient Thermal-Hydraulic Responses of the Nuclear Steam Generator Secondary Side to a Main Steam Line Break1

2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong Chull Jo ◽  
Frederick J. Moody
Keyword(s):  
Steam Generator ◽  
Steam Line ◽  
Analysis Model ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Line Pipe ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Main Steam Line ◽  
Main Steam ◽  
Transient Thermal ◽  
Secondary Side

This paper presents a multidimensional numerical analysis of the transient thermal-hydraulic response of a steam generator (SG) secondary side to a double-ended guillotine break of the main steam line attached to the SG at a pressurized water reactor (PWR) plant. A simplified analysis model is designed to include both the SG upper space, which the steam occupies and a part of the main steam line between the SG outlet nozzle and the pipe break location upstream of the main steam isolation valve. The transient steam flow through the analysis model is simulated using the shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model. The steam is treated as a real gas. To model the steam generation by heat transfer from the primary coolant to the secondary side coolant for a short period during the blow down process following the main steam line break (MSLB) accident, a constant amount of steam is assumed to be generated from the bottom of the SG upper space part. Using the numerical approach mentioned above, calculations have been performed for the analysis model having the same physical dimensions of the main steam line pipe and initial operational conditions as those for an actual operating plant. The calculation results have been discussed in detail to investigate their physical meanings and validity. The results demonstrate that the present computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is applicable for simulating the transient thermal-hydraulic responses in the event of the MSLB accident including the blowdown-induced dynamic pressure disturbance in the SG. In addition, it has been found that the dynamic hydraulic loads acting on the SG tubes can be increased by 2–8 times those loads during the normal reactor operation. This implies the need to re-assess the potential for single or multiple SG tube ruptures due to fluidelastic instability for ensuring the reactor safety.

Transient Thermal-Hydraulic Responses of the Nuclear Steam Generator Secondary Side to a Main Steam Line Break

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong Chull Jo ◽  
Frederick J. Moody
Keyword(s):  
Steam Generator ◽  
Steam Line ◽  
Analysis Model ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Line Pipe ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Main Steam Line ◽  
Main Steam ◽  
Transient Thermal ◽  
Secondary Side

This paper presents a multi-dimensional numerical analysis of the transient thermal-hydraulic response of a steam generator secondary side to a double-ended guillotine break of the main steam line attached to the steam generator at a pressurized water reactor plant. A simplified analysis model is designed to include both the steam generator upper space where steam occupies and a part of the main steam line between the steam generator outlet nozzle and the pipe break location upstream of the main steam isolation valve. The transient steam flow through the analysis model is simulated using the shear stress transport turbulence model. The steam is treated as a real gas. To model the steam generation by heat transfer from the primary coolant to the secondary side coolant for a short period during the blow down process following the main steam line break accident, a constant amount of steam is assumed to be generated from the bottom of the steam generator upper space part. Using the numerical approach mentioned above, calculations have been performed for the analysis model having the same physical dimensions of the main steam line pipe and initial operational conditions as those for an actual operating plant. The calculation results have been discussed in detail to investigate their physical meanings and validity. The results demonstrate that the present CFD model is applicable for simulating the transient thermal-hydraulic responses in the event of the MSLB accident including the blowdown-induced dynamic pressure disturbance in the SG. In addition, it has been found that the dynamic hydraulic loads acting on the SG tubes can be increased by 2 to 8 times those loads during the normal reactor operation. This implies the need to re-assess the potential for single or multiple SG tube ruptures due to fluidelastic instability for ensuring the reactor safety.

Thermal-Hydraulic Response of the Secondary Side of a PWR Steam Generator With an Internal Structure to a Main Steam Line Break

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong Chull Jo
Keyword(s):  
Internal Structure ◽  
Steam Generator ◽  
Steam Line ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Analysis Model ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Main Steam Line ◽  
Main Steam ◽  
Secondary Side ◽  
Hydraulic Response

This study addresses a numerical analysis of the thermal-hydraulic response of the secondary side of a steam generator (SG) model with an internal structure to a main steam line break (MSLB) at a pressurized water reactor (PWR) plant. The analysis model is comprised of the SG upper space where steam occupies and the part of the main steam pipe between the SG outlet nozzle and the broken pipe end upstream of the main steam isolation valve. To investigate the effects of the presence of the SG internal structure on the thermal-hydraulic response to the MSLB, the numerical calculation results for the analysis model having a perforated horizontal plate as the SG internal structure are compared to those obtained for a simple analysis model having no SG internal structure. Both analysis models have the same physical dimensions except for the internal structure. The initial operating conditions for both SG models are identical to those for an actual operating plant. To simplify the analyses, it is assumed that steam is constantly generated from the bottom of the SG secondary side space during the blowdown process. As the results, it has been found that the pressure wave significantly attenuates as it passes through the perforated internal structure and as time elapses. This leads to reduction in instantaneous hydraulic load on the internal structure including tubing. However, it is seen that the presence of the internal structure does not affect the transient velocities of steam passing through the SG tube bundle during the blowdown, which are 2 to 8 times the velocities during the normal reactor operation as in the case for the empty SG. Consequently, the present findings should be considered for the design of the steam generator to ensure the reactor safety as such elevated high steam velocities can cause fluidelastic instability of tubes which results in high cycle fatigue failure of the tubes.

Effects of a Venturi-Type Flow Restrictor on the Thermal-Hydraulic Response of the Secondary Side of a Pressurized Water Reactor Steam Generator to a Main Steam Line Break

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong Chull Jo ◽  
Frederick J. Moody
Keyword(s):  
Steam Generator ◽  
Steam Line ◽  
Cfd Model ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Water Reactor ◽  
Main Steam Line ◽  
Main Steam ◽  
Secondary Side ◽  
Hydraulic Response

A numerical analysis has been performed to simulate the transient thermal-hydraulic response to a main steam line break (MSLB) for the secondary side of a steam generator (SG) model equipped with a venturi-type SG outlet flow restrictor at a pressurized water reactor (PWR) plant. To investigate the effects of the flow restrictor on the thermal-hydraulic response of SG to the MSLB, numerical calculation results for the SG model equipped with the flow restrictor are compared to those obtained for an SG model without the restrictor. Both analysis models contain internal structures. The present computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model has been examined by comparing to a simple analytical model. It is confirmed from the comparison that the CFD model simulates the transient response of the SG secondary to the MSLB physically plausibly and minutely. Based on the CFD analysis results for both cases with or without the restrictor, it is seen that the intensities of the steam velocity and dynamic pressure are considerably attenuated in the SG model equipped with the restrictor comparing to the case in the SG model without the restrictor.

Validation of a CFD Analysis Model for the Thermal-Hydraulic Response of PWR Steam Generator to a Steam Line Break

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong Chull Jo ◽  
Bok Ki Min ◽  
Jae Jun Jeong
Keyword(s):  
Steam Generator ◽  
Steam Line ◽  
Cfd Analysis ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Analysis Model ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Calculation Results ◽  
Main Steam Line ◽  
Main Steam

This paper presents a validation of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis method for a numerical simulation of the transient thermal-hydraulic responses of steam generator (SG) secondary side to blowdown following a main steam line break (MSLB) at a pressurized water reactor (PWR). To do this, the CFD analysis method was applied to simulate the same blowdown situation as in an experimental work which was conducted for a simplified SG blowdown model, and the CFD calculation results were compared with the experimental results. As the result, both are in reasonably good agreement with each other. Consequently, the present CFD analysis model has been validated to be applicable for numerical simulations of the transient phase change heat transfer and flow situations in PWR SGs during blowdown.

Analysis of a Loss of Feedwater Case at the Ringhals-3 NPP Using RELAP5/PARCS Coupled Codes

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo´zsef Ba´na´ti ◽  
Mathias Sta˚lek ◽  
Christophe Demazie`re ◽  
Magnus Holmgren
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Fields ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
History Effects ◽  
Coupled Codes ◽  
Fuel Assemblies ◽  
Development And Validation ◽  
Secondary Side ◽  
Relap5 Code ◽  
Good Agreement

This paper deals with the development and validation of a coupled RELAP5/PARCS model of the Swedish Ringhals-3 pressurized water reactor against a Loss of Feedwater transient, which occurred on August 16, 2005. At first, the stand-alone RELAP5 and PARCS models are presented. All the 157 fuel assemblies are modeled in individually in both codes. The model is furthermore able to handle possible asymmetrical conditions of the flow velocity and temperature fields between the loops. On the neutronic side, the dependence of the material constants on history effects, burnup, and instantaneous conditions is accounted for, and the full heterogeneity of the core is thus taken into account. The reflectors are also explicitly represented. The coupling between the two codes is touched upon, with emphasis on the mapping between the hydrodynamic/heat structures and the neutronic nodes. The transient was initiated by a malfunction of the feedwater valve at the 2nd steam generator. Consequently, the turbines were tripped and, because of the low level in the SG-2 the reactor was scrammed. Activation of the auxiliary feedwater provided proper amount of cooling from the secondary side, resulting in safe shutdown conditions. Capabilities of the RELAP5 code were more challenged in this transient, where the influences of the feedback from the neutron kinetic side were also taken into account in the analysis. The calculated values of the parameters show good agreement with the measured data.

Degradation of Alloy 800 Under Steam Generator Secondary Side Crevice Conditions

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. C. Lu ◽  
G. Goszczynski ◽  
S. Ramamurthy
Keyword(s):  
Steam Generator ◽  
Safety Issue ◽  
Cold Work ◽  
Orientation Imaging Microscopy ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Electrochemical Tests ◽  
Orientation Imaging ◽  
Alloy 800 ◽  
Secondary Side

Alloy 800 is the preferred steam generator (SG) tube materials for CANDU™ reactors and is also used extensively in SGs in some pressurized water reactor (PWR) systems. Degradation of Alloy 800 SG tubing has only been found in a few tubes at a limited number of stations despite the large number of SG tube operating years accumulated to date. Recently, underdeposit corrosion was detected in a few ex-service tubs removed from some CANDU SGs. Pits like wall loss of about 5% to 10% through-wall depth were found in these ex-service tubes. Evidence of intra-tubesheet cracking of Alloy 800 tubes was detected in a few European PWR SGs. There is no degradation in mechanical properties of these ex-service CANDU SG tubes. In addition, the degradation of Alloy 800 tubes observed so far is not a safety issue. However, the findings suggest that Alloy 800 tubing may have some aging degradation susceptibility after many years of service. Whether the degradation of Alloy 800 tubing is due to imperfections in its compositional or metallurgical properties inherent from manufacturing, or due to the aggressive chemistry conditions that should have been precluded by modern chemistry control strategy require clarification. Comprehensive examinations, including metallurgical examinations, orientation imaging microscopy (OIM), surface analyses and electrochemical measurements were performed on the removed ex-service CANDU SG tubes that had some underdeposit corrosion. The results were compared with a reference nuclear grade Alloy 800 tubing and with archive Alloy 800 new SG tubes from several CANDU stations. High-temperature electrochemical tests, scanning vibrating electrode Technique (SVET) measurements as well as C-ring autoclave tests were performed to determine the possible factors leading to Alloy 800 SG tubing degradation. SCC was initiated in a few C-ring specimens in the presence of artificial cold work flaws under simulated acidic SG secondary-side crevices chemistry conditions. OIM and surface analysis were also performed to characterize the degradation initiated in Alloy 800 tubing under the influence of cold work flaws. The possible factors leading to Alloy 800 SG tubing degradation under SG secondary crevices conditions are discussed.

Natural Circulation Characteristics of an Integral Pressurized Water Reactor

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junli Gou ◽  
Suizheng Qiu ◽  
Guanghui Su ◽  
Dounan Jia
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Steam Generator ◽  
Natural Circulation ◽  
Heat Removal ◽  
Primary Circuit ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Water Reactor ◽  
Secondary Side ◽  
Circulation Characteristics

Natural circulation potential is of great importance to the inherent safety of a nuclear reactor. This paper presents a theoretical investigation on the natural circulation characteristics of an integrated pressurized water reactor. Through numerically solved the one-dimensional model, the steady-state single phase conservative equations for the primary circuit and the steady-state two-phase drift-flux conservative equations for the secondary side of the once-through steam generator, the natural circulation characteristics are studied. Based on the preliminary calculation analysis, it is found that natural circulation mass flow rate is proportional to the exponential function of the power, and the value of the exponent is related to working conditions of the steam generator secondary side. The higher height difference between the core center and the steam generator center is favorable to the heat removal capacity of the natural circulation.

Numerical Analysis of Subcooled Water Flashing Flow From a Pressurized Water Reactor Steam Generator Through an Abruptly Broken Main Feed Water Pipe

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong Chull Jo ◽  
Jae Jun Jeong ◽  
Byong Jo Yun ◽  
Jongkap Kim
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Steam Generator ◽  
Feed Water ◽  
Water Pipe ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Water Reactor ◽  
Subcooled Water ◽  
Numerical Predictions ◽  
Secondary Side

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was performed to investigate the hydraulic response of the flow field inside the pressurized water reactor (PWR) steam generator (SG) secondary side and the connected part of main feed water pipe to an abrupt main feed water line break (FWLB) accident. To realistically analyze the transient flow field situation, the flow field was assumed to be occupied initially by highly compressed subcooled water except that the upper part of the SG secondary side where steam occupied as in the practical case and the break was assumed to occur at the circumferential weld line between the feed water nozzle and the main feed water pipe. This would result in a subcooled water flashing flow from the SG through the short-broken pipe end to the surrounding atmosphere, which was numerically simulated in this study. Typical results of the prediction in terms of the fluid transient velocity and pressure were illustrated and discussed. To examine the physical validity of the present numerical simulation of the subcooled water flashing flow, the transient mass flow rates predicted in this study were compared with the other previous numerical predictions based on the subcooled water nonflashing (no phase change) flow or saturated water flashing flow assumptions and the prediction by a simple analysis method.

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