Effects of Antivibration Bars on the U-Bend Flow Distribution in Recirculating Steam Generators

Abstract

This paper presents the results of numerical analyses done to investigate the effects of antivibration bars (AVBs) on the U-bend flow distributions in recirculating steam generators. Two designs were analyzed, an existing scaled model, designed for laboratory experiments, and a prototypical one, typical of those used in PWR power plants. The results of the investigation show that the orientation of the single set of AVBs used in the scaled model is such that virtually no U-bend flow re-distribution is predicted to occur. However, significant re-distribution of the U-bend flow is predicted in the prototypical design containing three sets of AVBs, each having a different orientation.