Mathematical Modelling Material Transport and Sludge Formation in Nuclear Steam Generators

Abstract

Sludge accumulation is one of the most troublesome problems in pressurized water reactor steam generators. This paper describes the mathematical modelling of sludge formation in a nuclear steam generator. The mathematical model was defined in three stages, because of its complexity, and a computer code has been completed to calculate the concentration of sludge that has entered in the feedwater and been transported throughout the steam generator. For the first stage, the transport of the sludge particles has been described by an equation, which is a differential form of mass balance tor suspended or A deposited magnetite particles. The further two stages of development will add deposition and re-entrainment of sludge particles, and time-dependent feedback effects of sludge deposition on fluid flow and heat transfer.