HTGR Knowledge Base

Conference Article: The effect of inlet and outlet shell-side flow and heat transfer on the performance of HTGR straight tube heat exchangers

Carosella, D.P. (GA Technologies Inc., San Diego, California (United States))

Abstract

Since the mid-1970s, various high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) steam generator, auxiliary heat exchanger (AHE), recuperator, and intermediate heat exchanger (IHX) designs have been proposed that use straight tube configurations. Each of these designs requires 90-deg turns in the helium gas flow at the inlet and/or outlet of the tube bundle. The design of the steam generator for the HTGR steam cycle/cogeneration lead plant includes a straight tube superheater (STSH) which incorporates both a 90-deg inlet and outlet turn across the tube bundle. The AHE includes a 90-deg outlet turn across the tube bundle. Previous GA Technologies Inc. (GA) recuperator and IHX designs for gas turbine and process heat HTGRs have also considered straight tube designs with 90-deg bends at the inlet and outlet. To evaluate the effect of these turns on the tube bundle performance, two model air flow tests have been performed, and a third is being planned. Fluid flow and heat transfer computer models have also been used to try to determine the effect of these 90-deg turns on the tube bundle performance. As a result of these studies, the following conclusions can be made: 1. For all of the designs investigated, the 90-deg turns reduced the bundle performance. 2. In designs where the tube pitch-to-diameter ratio is small (less than 1.3), the 90-deg turns can have a critical effect on the performance. However, use of design concepts such a flow baffles or small modular bundle designs can greatly reduce or eliminate these problems. 3. The inlet turns are more critical to the design than the outlet turns. 4. The non-uniform temperature profiles resulting from poor inlet design can result in high thermal stresses in the tubes. 5. Testing to correlate the shell-side heat transfer in the region of a 90-deg bend across a tube bundle is required to more fully understand the characteristics of this problem. 6. Although the 90-deg turns are not desirable, they are frequently necessary in realistic plant and component designs. However, with the proper analysis and testing, the designs can be developed so as to minimize their adverse effects on tube bundle performance and thermal stress.

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key words: Gas Cooled Reactor, Nuclear Technology
Reference:
Specialists' meeting on heat exchanging components of gas-cooled reactors Duesseldorf (Germany) 16-19 Apr 1984
International Atomic Energy Agency, International Working Group on Gas-Cooled Reactors, Vienna (Austria)
IWGGCR--9, pp:266-275