Role of constraint volume and heat flux on the design of evaporator tubes of steam generator by entropy generation minimization
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: This paper proposes a design methodology for evaporator tubes of a steam generator by applying the entropy generation minimization (EGM) approach. A two-phase flow-based entropy generation model for steam generator evaporator tubes is developed, with coolant volume as a constraint. For a target steam generation rate, the total entropy generation of the evaporator circuit is minimized using system volume and furnace heat flux as two constraints. It is observed that for a fixed steam generation rate, with increasing evaporator diameter, the furnace height decreases while the cross-sectional area increases. The analysis reveals that for a steam generation rate of 100 kg/s and a fixed circuit volume of 47 m 3 , increasing the heat flux from 36 to 50 kW/m 2 shifts the EGM point from an evaporator diameter of 62 mm to 84 mm, respectively. On the other hand, the minimum point shifts to a diameter of 43 mm when the heat flux is decreased to 25 kW/m 2 . The present study concludes that the selection of the constraint volume for designing the evaporator downcomer circuit for a target steam generation rate should be done based on the available furnace heat flux to choose the most efficient design.
Authors: Md Naim Hossain, Koushik Ghosh
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,000
OpenAlex ID: W4404171080