Flow-induced and acoustically induced vibration experience in operating gas-cooled reactors
An overview has been presented of flow-induced and acoustically induced vibration failures that occurred in the past in gas-cooled graphite-moderated reactors, and the importance of this experience for the Gas-Cooled Fast-Breeder Reactor (GCFR) project has been assessed. Until now only failures in CO/sub 2/-cooled reactors have been found. No problems with helium-cooled reactors have been encountered so far. It is shown that most of the failures occurred because flow-induced and acoustically induced dynamic loads were underestimated, while at the same time not enough was known about the influence of environmental parameters on material behavior. All problems encountered were solved. The comparison of the influence of the gas properties on acoustically induced and flow-induced vibration phenomena shows that the interaction between reactor design and the thermodynamic properties of the primary coolant precludes a general preference for either carbon dioxide or helium. The acoustic characteristics of CO/sub 2/ and He systems are different, but the difference in dynamic loadings due to the use of one rather than the other remains difficult to predict. A slight preference for helium seems, however, to be justified.
- Research Organization:
- General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-03-0167-023
- OSTI ID:
- 7105200
- Report Number(s):
- GA-A-14291; TRN: 77-013894
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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