Steam Generators and Steam Separator1.docVIP

Steam Generators and Steam Separators Steam Generators The function of the steam generator is to transfer the heat from the reactor cooling system to the secondary side of the tubes which contain feedwater. As the feedwater passes the tube, it picks up heat and eventually gets converted to steam. The steam generators may also contain a steam separation region, described below. There are three types of steam generators: Vertical U tube Horizontal Once through Graphic courtesy EPRI Most American, Canadian, Japanese, French, and German PWR suppliers use the vertical U-tube design with inverted tubes. Babcock Wilcox uses the once-through design. This design is a straight through tube with a vertical steam generator and vertical tubes. The Russian VVER? reactor designs use horizontal steam generators, which have the tubes mounted horizontally. The horizontal design has proven to be less susceptible to degradation than the vertical U-tube design. Vertical Steam Generator (Click to expand) The vertical steam generators generally have a feedwater ring supply header on the outer edge of the steam generator. The water is directed downward and flows along a wrapper sheet then is directed upwards to flow along the steam generator tubes where the water picks up heat, increasing in temperature until boiling occurs and the water is converted to steam. In the upper part of the steam generator is a moisture separator region which forces the steam-water mixture through channels which allow steam to pass, but not water. A vane arrangement in these steam generators also force a swirling action that enhances the steam-water separation. The water supplied to the steam generators must be very pure, free of particles, and chemicals. In the boiling environment of the steam generator these chemicals can concentrate resulting in undesired corrosion. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is a research organization funded by many U.S. and some electric utilities. EPRI has con