Two-phase flow instabilities in helical tubes of once-through steam generators

Helical tube is one type of once-through stream generators in integrative nuclear device. The thermal-hydrodynamic instabilities in helical tubes of a once-through steam generator (HTOTSG) with exit-steam superheated were studied by using multi-variable liner-frequency-domain theory. Based on the drift-flux model, a small perturbation method, as well as Laplace transformation theory, was empolyed to linearize the system of partial differential equations. A computer code called HTOTSGM-D was developed to investigate the influences of inlet flow rate, inlet subcooling, heat flux, and system pressure on oscillations. The calculated results showed that the above factors must be considered comprehensively in once-through steam generator design and operation, even though the installation of the entrance throttles was still an effective way to stabilize the system.