Thermo-mechanical stress analysis of feed-water valves in nuclear power plants

Abstract

Feed-water valves (FWVs) are used to regulate the flow rate of water entering steam generators, which are very important devices in nuclear power plants. Due to the working environment of relatively high pressure and temperature, there is strength failure problem of valve body in some cases. Based on the thermo-fluid-solid coupling model, the valve body stress of the feed-water valve in the opening process is investigated. The flow field characteristics inside the valve and temperature change of the valve body with time are studied. The stress analysis of the valve body is carried out considering mechanical stress and thermal stress comprehensively. The results show that the area with relatively high-velocity area moves gradually from the bottom of the cross section to the top of the cross section with the increase of the opening degree. The whole valve body reaches the same temperature of 250 °C at the time of 1894 s. The maximum stress of the valve body meets the design requirements by stress assessment. This work can be referred for the design of FWVs and other similar valves.