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Design methodology and computational fluid analysis for the printed circuit steam generator (PCSG)

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Abstract

To introduce the printed circuit steam generator (PCSG), the design methods were developed, and the CFD analysis was performed. The design considerations were divided into three parts: thermal sizing, structural integrity evaluation, and specific design for water channels. The thermal sizing was performed by a 1D heat transfer analysis and the channel length was increased until it satisfied the target thermal power. The structural integrity was evaluated based on the ASME code and the calculated stresses were compared to the allowable stress. The flow instability, flow maldistribution, and fouling have negative effects on the performance. In order to prevent such phenomena, the mixing channel and orifice were designed. The CFD analysis on the final design of the PCSG was performed to evaluate the steam state at the outlet and flow distribution. Although a flow maldistribution (∼12 %) was observed, the steam state at the outlet was satisfied with the operating conditions.

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Abbreviations

Bo :

Boiling number

C :

Chisholm parameter

Co :

Convection number

C P :

Heat capacity, kJ/kg·K

D h :

Hydraulic diameter, m

f :

Friction factor

Fr :

Froude number

g :

Gravitational acceleration, m/s2

G :

Mass flux, kg/m2·s

h :

Convective heat transfer coefficient, W/m2·K

H :

Channel height, m

i :

Enthalpy, kJ/kg

I :

Moment of inertia, kg·m2

k :

Thermal conductivity, W/m·K

K :

Loss coefficient

K v :

Vessel parameter

L :

Channel length, m

m :

Mass flow rate, kg/s

N :

Summation of loss coefficient

Nu :

Nusselt number

P :

Pressure, Pa

Pe :

Peclet number

Pr :

Prandtl number

q :

Heat transfer rate, W

q″ :

Heat flux, W/m2

R :

Thermal resistance, K/W

Re :

Reynolds number

S :

Stress, Pa

t :

Wall thickness, m

T :

Temperature, °C

W :

Channel width, m

x :

Steam quality

X :

Martinelli parameter

α v :

Rectangular vessel parameter

ρ :

Density, kg/m3

boil :

Boiling

B :

Bending

cond :

Conductive

conv :

Convective

CBD :

Convective boiling dominant

f :

Liquid phase

f0 :

Single-phase liquid flow

g :

Gas phase

m :

Membrane

max :

Maximum

NBD :

Nucleate boiling dominant

pri :

Primary side

sat :

Saturation

sec :

Secondary side

stack :

Projected onto the stacking direction

tot :

Total

w :

Wall

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of KOREA (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (No. NRF-2018M2A8A4081307), South Korea.

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Correspondence to Sang Ji Kim.

Additional information

Sang Ji Kim is a Principal Researcher in the Versatile System Technology Development Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. He received his Ph.D. degree in Nuclear Engineering from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in 2001. His research focuses on the development of printed circuit steam generators.

Taewoo Kim is a Ph.D. student in the University of Science and Technology and Research Assistant in the Versatile System Technology Development Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. He received his M.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kyungpook National in 2018. His research interests include the design of printed circuit steam generators and sodium water reaction.

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Kim, S.J., Kim, T. Design methodology and computational fluid analysis for the printed circuit steam generator (PCSG). J Mech Sci Technol 34, 5303–5314 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-020-1131-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-020-1131-2

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