Transient Hydraulic Response of a Pressurized Water Reactor Steam Generator to a Feedwater Line Break Using the Nonflashing Liquid Flow Model

Abstract

In this study, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of the transient flow field inside the secondary side of a nuclear reactor steam generator (SG) during blowdown following a feedwater line break (FWLB) accident is performed to evaluate the transient hydraulic loading (pressure) on the SG internals and tubes. The nonflashing liquid flow is assumed for a conservative prediction of the transient blowdown loading. The CFD analysis results are illustrated in terms of the transient velocity and pressure disturbances at some selected monitoring points inside the SG secondary side and compared with those predictions obtained from the existing simple analytical model to examine the physical validity of the CFD analysis model. As a result, the existing simple analytical model cannot yield the transient velocity and pressure disturbances and results in underestimation during blowdown as compared to the CFD calculations. Based on the present CFD analysis results, it is seen that an FWLB may result in excessive disastrous transient hydraulic loading on the SG internal structures and tubes near the feedwater inlet nozzle due to the significant pressure changes (pressure wave with very high amplitude) and abruptly increased velocity of water near the feedwater nozzle.