• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.97-108
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• 2010

Fluid-elastic instability and turbulence-induced vibration of steam generator U-tubes of a nuclear power plant are studied numerically to investigate the effect of design changes of support structures in the upper region of the tubes. Two steam generator models, Model A and Model B, are considered in this study. The main design features of both models are identical except for the conditions of vertical and horizontal support bars. The location and number of vertical and horizontal support bars at the middle of the U-bend region in Model A differs from that of Model B. The stability ratio and the amplitude of turbulence-induced vibration are calculated by a computer program based on the ASME code. The mode shape with a large modal displacement at the upper region of the U-tube is the key parameter related to the fretting wear between the tube and its support structures, such as vertical, horizontal, and diagonal support bars. Therefore, the location and the number of vertical and horizontal support bars have a great influence on the fretting wear mechanism. The variation in the stability ratios for each vibrational mode is compared with respect to Model A and Model B. Even though both models satisfy the design criteria, Model A shows substantial improvements over Model B, particularly in terms of having greater amplitude margins in the turbulence-excited vibration (especially at the inner region of the tube bundle) and better stability ratios for the fluid-elastic instability.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.15 no.9 s.102
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• pp.1009-1015
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• 2005

Fluid-elastic instability and turbulence excitation for an under developing steam generator are investigated numerically. The stability ratio and the amplitude of turbulence excitation are obtained by using the $PIAT^{(R)}$ (program for integrity assessment of steam generator tube) code from the information on the thermal-hydraulic data of the steam generator. The aspect ratio, the ratio between the height of U-tube from the upper most tube support Plate (h) and the width of two vertical portion of U-tube (w), is defined for geometric parameter study. Several aspect ratios with relocation of tube support plates are adopted to study the effects on the mode shapes and characteristics of flow-induced vibration. When the aspect ratio exceeds value of 1, most of the mode shapes at low frequency are generated at the top of U-tube. It makes very high value of the stability ratio and the amplitude of turbulent excitation as well. We can consider that the local mode shape at the upper side of U-tube will develop the wear phenomena between the tube and the anti-nitration bars such as vortical, horizontal, and diagonal strips. It turns out that the aspect ratio reveals very important parameter for the design stage of the steam generator. The appropriate value of the aspect ratio should be specified and applied.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2002.11b
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• pp.927-932
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• 2002

The stability ratio and vibrational amplitude of each tube inside a steam generator have different values. We estimate the characteristics of flow-induced vibration for CE type steam generator with various column and row number of the tube. To obtain the thermal-hydraulic data and stability ratio we use the ATHOS3-MODI and PIAT-FEI/TE code respectively. It turns out that the steam generator has a bounded central zone with the distributed values of the stability ratio and the vibrational amplitude, and those values across the zone boundary become decreased.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.390.2-390
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• 2002

The stability ratio and vibrational amplitude of each tube inside a steam generator have different values. We estimate the characteristics of flow-induced vibration for CE type steam generator with various column and row number of the tube. To obtain the thermal-hydraulic data and stability ratio we use the ATHOS3 and PIAT-FEI/TE code respectively. It turns out that the steam generator has a bounded central zone which the distributed values of the stability ratio and the vibrational amplitude, and those values across the zone boundary become decreased.