Effects of power level on thermal-hydraulic characteristics of steam generator

The thermohydraulics of the steam generator secondary is analyzed using Fluent's porous media model coupled to a two-phase flow mixture model. The resistances introduced by the tubes, supports, downcomers and separators are calculated as the source terms of the momentum equation. The heat transfer from primary side fluid to the secondary is calculated three-dimensionally each iteration and is supplied as a heat source on the secondary flow field calculation. The effects of the power level on thermal hydraulic characteristics in the steam generator are also investigated. Flow-induced vibration damage increased in severity with increasing power level.