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Title: Large Eddy Simulations for a Helical Coil Steam Generator

Journal Article · · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society
OSTI ID:23042924
; ; ; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Texas A and M University, 3133 TAMU, College Station, Texas, 77843 (United States)
  2. Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Lemont, Illinois, 60439 (United States)

The desire for scalable power plants in remote locations and specialized applications has brought forth the small modular reactor (SMR). Now, smaller light water reactors are seen as viable means for meeting global energy requirements. Generally, straight or U-shape tubes are used to exchange heat from the primary to secondary coolant; however this is not ideal when size is a criterion. Helical coil steam generators (HCSGs) are advantageous for SMRs due to their enhanced heat transfer in compact spaces. Still, there is the concern of safety as steam generator tubes could rupture due to vibrations and fatigue on the material. Understanding flow characteristics and quantifying pressures for these tubes are important components for the design of safety and efficiency in these steam generators. The current study uses the spectral element computational fluid dynamic (CFD) code, Nek5000, to develop large eddy simulations (LES) for validation against experiments that will be conducted at Texas A and M University. Time-averaged pressure data will be compared with pressure tap readings, and velocity profile with particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements. The presented preliminary results investigate the differences between 5.-, 7.-, and 9.-order polynomial simulations. (authors)

OSTI ID:
23042924
Journal Information:
Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 115; Conference: 2016 ANS Winter Meeting and Nuclear Technology Expo, Las Vegas, NV (United States), 6-10 Nov 2016; Other Information: Country of input: France; 4 refs.; available from American Nuclear Society - ANS, 555 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, IL 60526 (US); ISSN 0003-018X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English