Steam generators – horizontal or vertical (which type should be used in nuclear power plants with VVER?)

Abstract

The steam generator is a very important component of a nuclear power plant. Historically, vertical steam generators came to be used abroad and horizontal steam generators in our country. Both types of steam generators operate successfully in nuclear power plants and satisfactorily fulfill their functions, enabling the production of electricity. Repeated attempts to re-examine the existing concepts in one or another country have been unsuccessful because there are no convincing arguments for this. Nonetheless, the question of using a different type of steam generator is raised periodically in our country and abroad. This article briefly reviews different concepts of steam generators. Their parameters, characteristics, and thermal efficiency are compared and ways to increase the latter are analyzed. It is shown that it is impossible to choose one or the other type of steam generator without making an exhaustive study and analysis of the layout of the reactor facility and its scheme, servicing, and operation as part of a nuclear power plant. A comparative analysis of layouts of reactor facilities with different types of steam generators is made.