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Conference Article: Mechanical design aspects of HTR-heat exchanger components: Description of loading conditions, discussion of failure modes, design criteria and present status of mechanical design work

Abstract

In order to cover the temperature range envisaged for nuclear coal gasification plants, a special design code must be developed taking into account HTR-specific aspects. The experimental basis for describing the material behaviour will be gained by the current R and D materials test program. Besides the experimental research, some theoretical methods must be improved. Preliminary evaluations on high temperature exposed structures have been performed, discussing four possible failure modes. The results show that under the very low pressure difference occuring under normal conditions, no significant damage is expected due to creep or ratcheting failure. Most uncertainties arise in the field of buckling and fatigue loadings. More sophisticated investigations are required, although the calculations, which are based on conservative assumptions, indicate that for this material (IN 617) failure in these fields is also not expected. The information gained from tests on structural parts and components will be of basic importance in the confirmation and completion of the theoretical work.

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Reference:

Specialists' meeting on process heat applications technology. Juelich, Germany, F.R. 27 - 29 Nov 1979

International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria). International Working Group on High-Temperature Reactors.

IWGHTR--6, pp:142-150