• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.1029-1040
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• 2021

For the structural integrity evaluation of pressurized water reactor (PWR) steam generator (SG) tubes subjected to transient hydraulic loading, determination of the tube-to-tube gap velocity and static pressure distributions along the tubes is prerequisite. This paper addresses both computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and analytical approaches for predicting the tube-to-tube gap velocity and static pressure distributions during blowdown following a feedwater line break (FWLB) accident at a PWR SG. First of all, a comparative study on CFD calculations of the transient velocity and pressure distributions in the SG secondary sides for two different models having 30 or no tubes is performed. The result shows that the velocities of sub-cooled water flowing between any adjacent two tubes of a tubed SG model during blowdown can be roughly estimated by applying the specified SG secondary side porosity to those of the no-tubed SG model. Secondly, simplified analytical approximate solutions for the steady two-dimensional SG secondary flow velocity and pressure distributions under a given discharge flowrate are derived using a line sink model. The simplified analytical solutions are validated by comparing them to the CFD calculations.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.519-523
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• 2013

A steam generator (SG) tube is an important component of a nuclear power plant (NPP). It works as a pressure boundary between the primary and secondary systems. The integrity of a SG tube can be assessed by an eddy current test every outage. The eddy current technique(adopting a bobbin probe) is currently the main technique used to assess the integrity of the tubing of a steam generator. An eddy current signal analyst for steam generator tubes continuously analyzes data over a given period of time. However, there are possibilities that the analyst conducting the test may get tired and cause mistakes, such as: missing indications or not being able to separate a true defect signal from one that is more complicated. This error could lead to confusion and an improper interpretation of the signal analysis. In order to avoid these possibilities, many countries of opted for automated analyses. Axial ODSCC (outside diameter stress corrosion cracking) defects on the tubes of OPR1000 steam generators have been found on the tube that are in contract with tube support plates. In this study, automated analysis software called CDS (computer data screening) made by Zetec was used. This paper will discuss the results of introducing an automated analysis system for an axial ODSCC on the tubes of an OPR1000 steam generator.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.400-408
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• 2003

This paper investigates the vibration characteristics of steam generator (SG) U-tubes with defect. The operating SG shell-side flow field conditions for determining the fluidelastic instability parameters such as added mass are obtained from three-dimensional SG flow calculation. Modal analyses are performed for the U-tubes either with axial or circumferential flaw with different sizes. Special emphases are on the effects of flaw orientation and size on the modal and instability characteristics of tubes, which are expressed in terms of the natural frequency, corresponding mode shape and stability ratio. Also, addressed is the effect of the internal pressure on the vibration characteristics of the tube.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Conference
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• 2002.10b
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• pp.203-204
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• 2002

The wear behaviour of steam generator (SG) tubes (Inconel 600 and 690) against support materials (405 and 409 ferritic stainless steels) has been experimentally studied in room temperature water using reciprocating wear apparatus with tube-an-plate configuration. The results showed that the wear rate of Inconel 690 was lower than that of lnconel 600 with increasing normal loads and sliding amplitudes. Also, plastic deformation layers appear below the surface of both SG tubes, which have a specific thickness and are small compared with their grain size. This means that wear rate of SG tubes in water condition is closely related to the formation and fracture of plastic deformation layers.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.442-453
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• 2003

This study investigates the safety assessment of the potential for fretting-wear damages on steam generator (SG) U-tubes caused by foreign object in operating nuclear power plants. The operating SG shell-side flow field conditions are obtained from three-dimensional SG flow calculation using the ATHOS3 code. Modal analyses are performed for the finite element modelings of U-tubes to get the natural frequency, corresponding mode shape and participation factor. The wear rate of U-tube caused by foreign object is calculated using the Archard formula and the remaining life of the tube is predicted. Also, discussed in this study is the effect of the flow velocity and vibration of the tube on the remaining life of the tube.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.56 no.7
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• pp.1224-1230
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• 2007

In this paper, we study the classification of defects at steam generator tube in nuclear power plant using eddy current testing (ECT). We consider 4 defect patterns of SG tube: I-In type, I-Out type, V-In type, and V-Out type. Through numerical analysis program based on finite element modeling, 400 ECT signals are generated by varying width and depth of each defect type. In order to improve the classification performance, we propose new feature extraction technique. After extracting new features from the generated ECT signals, multi-layer perceptron is used to classify the defect patterns. Through the computer simulation study, it is shown that the proposed method achieves 100% classification success rate while the previous method yields 91% success rate.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.452-459
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• 2003

The characteristics of fluid-elastic instability and effects of turbulent excitations for the KSNP steam generator tubes were investigated numerically. The information for the thermal-hydraulic data of the steam generator has been obtained by using the ATHOS3-MOD1 code and the flow-induced vibration(FIV) analysis has been conducted by using the PIAT(program for Integrity assessment of SG tube) code. The KSNP steam generator has the concentrated plugging zone at the vicinity of the stay cylinder inside the SG. To investigate the cause of the concentrated tube plugging zone, the FIV analysis has been performed for various column and row number of the steam generator tubes. From the results of FIV analysis the stability ratio due to the fluid-elastic instability and vibrational amplitude due to the turbulent excitation in the concentrated plugged zone have a trend of larger values than those of the outer concentrated tube Plugging zone.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.188-192
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• 2009

A forced outage due to a steam generator tube leak in a Korean nuclear power plant was reported.1) Primary water stress corrosion cracking has occurred in many tubes in the plant, and they were repaired using sleeves or plugs. In order to develop proper repair criteria, it is necessary to understand the leak behavior of the tubes containing stress corrosion cracks. Stress corrosion cracks were developed in 0.1 M sodium tetrathionate solution at room temperature. Steam generator(SG) tubes with short cracks were successfully fabricated with a restricted solution contact method. The leak rates of the degraded tubes were measured at room temperature. Some tubes with 100 % through wall cracks showed an increase of leak rate with time at a constant pressure.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2023

The phenomenon of fretting wear due to the flow-induced vibration in steam generator (SG) tube is a significant degradation mechanism in nuclear power plants. Fretting wear in SG tube is primarily attributed to the friction and impact forces between the SG tube and the tube support structures, experienced during nuclear power plants operation. While the Archard model has generally been used for the prediction of fretting wear in SG tube, it is limited by its linear nature. In this study, we introduced an "Impact Shear Work-rate" (ISW) model, which takes into account the combined effects of impact and sliding. The ISW model was evaluated using existing experimental data on fretting wear in SG tube and was compared against the Archard model. The prediction results using the ISW model were more accurate than those using the Archard model, particularly for impact forces.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.1160-1167
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• 2018

Detectability of the loose parts (LPs) in steam generator (SG) was studied with eddy current testing technique such as X-probe, bobbin and rotating coils ($MRPC^{(R)}$) as a function of LP size and spacing between LP and tube or between LP and support structures. SG mockup simulating SG tube and support structures with LP was fabricated. The X-probe showed slightly better detectability than $MRPC^{(R)}$ for LP of ferrous (F-LP) material and vice versa for LP of nonferrous (NF-LP) material. In terms of feasibility, inspection rate and other predictable features of the SG tubing inspections, X-probe can be used reliably for monitoring the LPs and the flaws formed by LPs on SG tubes.