Guidelines for Heat Exchange Performance Evaluation. A Practical and Semitheoretical Approach

Abstract

Steam Generators and highly rated heat exchangers, such as feed water preheaters, moderator coolers of PHWRs, etc., are frequently surveyed, as far as heat exchange capability is concerned, by monitoring some of the heat and mass transfer balances variables involved, though they are not necessarily the most proper ones for the best assessment. Through several years' experience working in the engineering department of a Nuclear Power Plant, it can be concluded that every important component or equipment that has an almost unique design due to its importance, requires a particular treatment for its periodical surveillance. In the present paper some guiding rules for a better achievement of the aforementioned task are described and illustrated with examples taken from several plant situations. It can be concluded that, improving process variables measurement, together with data reconciliation and a proper modelling leads to better parameters to survey heat transport in heat exchangers.