Large eddy simulation of turbulence entering a PWR steam generator Conference Paper

In this study, the flow characteristics and turbulent buffeting forces within steam generator/heat exchanger geometries were calculated using the large eddy simulation (LES) technique for turbulence simulation. Two calculations were conducted to investigate both the waterbox and tube bundle regions of typical steam generators. The Smagorinsky sub-grid scale model is utilized to represent the scales of motion which cannot be captured by the computational mesh size. Where possible the computed flow field is graphically presented to aid in understanding of the flow patterns which occur. The flow fields from these LES calculations were found to exhibit turbulent characteristics consistent with experimental findings, warranting further investigation of the LES technique as an industrial design tool.

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