Application of CFD for Modeling Flows in Feed-Water Pipelines

Abstract

A numerical investigation was performed to study the flows in several PWR power plant feed-water pipeline configurations. Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) models were developed with commercial CFD software. The models comprised sections of the pipeline networks including geometrical configurations like; elbows, expansions and contractions, valves, T and Y branches. The purpose of the study was to obtain insight into the flow redistribution, flow patterns and axial velocity profiles resulting from the interaction between various pipeline branches and position of the geometrical configurations. The results, streamlines, axial velocity contours, lateral velocity vectors and velocity profiles are presented and discussed in relation to the shape of the pipeline network. The CFD models results indicate that in some cases axial velocity profiles and flow patterns can differ from the developed turbulent flows in the straight pipes. The presented CFD models are one step towards developing advanced tools that can be used to evaluate the effects of the pipeline geometry on the flow structure and axial velocity distribution.