Numerical Investigation of Residual Heat Removal Heat Exchange Capacity in Pressurized Water Reactor Plants

Mathematical model is established for shell and tube heat exchanger of PWR residual heat removal system.Comparison with the calculated results from the design software HTRI for the heat exchanger is conducted,and the results show that outlet temperatures of shell and tube side are precisely predicted.The calculation of overall heat exchanger coefficient sensibility shows that this parameter varies with the flow rates of tube and shell side and it is not advisable to keep it as constant value in the simulation.The overall heat exchanger coefficient shall be coupled with the heat exchanger flow and heat exchanging conditions during calculation.The overall coefficient is extremely dependent on the flowrates which is less than 1000 m³/h while it seems to be independent with the higher flowrates.The model can be easily employed to predict other system conditions elsewhere and provide the convenient way for the plant test,design verification and high efficient operation of nuclear power plants.