Investigation of passive residual heat removal system for VVERs: Effects of finned type heat exchanger tubes

After nuclear reactor shutdown, decay heat generation continues in the reactor core and it has the possibility to cause a severe accident. This residual heat has to be removed from the core sufficiently. In Water-Water Energetic Reactors (WWER) or VVERs, passive residual heat removal system is designed to remove decay heat after reactor shutdown. This system does not need any power operation, since ambient air is used as the cooling fluid in heat exchanger. The steam that is generated in the steam generators due to the heat released in the reactor core condenses and rejects its heat to the ambient air within this heat exchanger. The condensed liquid is returned back to the steam generator. The motion of the cooling medium occurs due to natural circulation. In the presented study, the original geometric design of passive residual heat removal system of VVER type nuclear power plants is introduced. The performance of this system is investigated. In the previous study, geometric design parameters for this system was determined for plain tubes of heat exchanger. Heat exchanger tubes were positioned as a helical in the previous study. With the knowledge of enhancing heat transfer using finned surfaces, geometrical design is modified in presented study. Circular type fin structures (having rectangular cross-section) are added to the outer surface of heat exchanger tubes. In the present heat exchanger model, tubes are positioned as a staggered bank. As the fin parameters, fin thickness, fin radius and total fin number are investigated in this study. Results are compared with the one obtained with plane tube (in tube bank configuration). This study shows that adding finned surfaces enhances heat transfer mechanism and also reduces dimensions of heat exchanger unit. This study also shows that the 2% amount of nominal reactor power can be removed by this design. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.