Steam Generator Feed Water Pipe Vapor Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing feed water pipes for steam generators experience thermal stratification and water hammer issues, leading to stress and potential damage due to vapor ingress and water level fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
A feed water pipe design featuring a communication pipe section with a vertically inclined end to prevent vapor entry and a horizontally extending insertion pipe section to maintain water level, ensuring the vapor is discharged and thermal stratification is suppressed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional feed water pipe is used, then the structure is simple, but thermal stratification and water hammer occur due to vapor ingress
Solution Approach 1:
The communication path is configured with a vertical dimension component, where one end is connected to the pipe path at an upper end of a cross-section and the other end is positioned lower than the one end in the vertical direction. This vertical arrangement prevents vapor from reaching the pipe path through gravity-driven separation, effectively suppressing thermal stratification and water hammer without requiring complex additional components.
2Reliability
If the communication path is positioned to prevent vapor ingress, then water hammer is suppressed, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The communication path acts as an intermediary structure that connects the pipe path to the exterior space while maintaining a vertical level difference. This intermediary configuration allows liquid communication while blocking vapor ingress, suppressing water hammer without requiring additional valves or complex control mechanisms.
3Reliability
If the pipe path is raised to prevent vapor entry, then thermal stratification is suppressed, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of raising the entire pipe path horizontally, the solution utilizes the vertical dimension by positioning the communication path's one end at the upper end of a cross-section while the other end is positioned lower in the vertical direction. This vertical configuration suppresses thermal stratification while maintaining a simpler horizontal pipe layout that is easier to manufacture and install.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design effectively suppresses thermal stratification and water hammer, reducing stress and maintaining a stable water level, thereby protecting the pipe from damage and ensuring efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
another end of the communication path is positioned lower than the one end of the communication path in a vertical direction
Implementation Method 2
a thermal stratification phenomenon may occur due to vapor flowing into the pipe
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
There are provided a generator internal pipe section (22) that extends in the horizontal direction inside a steam generator and includes a pipe path (22a) through which cooling water supplied from the outside of the steam generator circulates; and a communication pipe section (25) that is connected to the generator internal pipe section and is provided with a communication path which causes the pipe path to communicate with an exterior space (40) of the generator internal pipe section inside the steam generator, wherein one end (26a) of the communication path is connected to the pipe path at an upper end of a cross-section perpendicular to the flow direction of the cooling water in the pipe path and the other end (26b) of the communication path is positioned at the downside in the vertical direction in relation to one end of the communication path, and wherein one end side and the other end side of the communication path are connected at a position existing at the upside in the vertical direction in relation to one end.