Work

Multi-stage optimization of spray flow characteristics and structural performance for a pressurizer spray valve in nuclear power plants

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: To address abnormal flow increase and internal wear in the pressurizer spray valve (PSV) under small openings, this study conducts flow analysis and structural optimization. A CPO-SVR surrogate model combined with the hippopotamus optimization algorithm is proposed. The model achieves high accuracy with an R 2 of 0.95 for stress prediction and 0.99 for flow coefficient prediction, with prediction errors of 0.23% and 1.4%, respectively, while reducing computational cost by approximately 86%. After optimization, valve seat stress drops by 49.4% to 150.58 MPa, maximum flow velocity is reduced by 7.9%, and the abnormal flow plateau in the 0%–20% opening range is eliminated, yielding a smooth characteristic that closely follows the ideal equal-percentage curve. This study provides an effective method for the design of nuclear-grade valves.

Source: Nuclear Engineering and Design

DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2026.115244

Authors: Hongwei Xu, Yufeng Lang, Jianian Chang, Xizhuo Le, Jianfeng Mao

Institution: Zhejiang University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Nuclear Engineering Thermal-Hydraulics

Subfield: Aerospace Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,710

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China