A universal model for the thermal hydraulic performance design of steam generation system

In this paper, a universal model for the thermal hydraulic performance design of steam generation system has been introduced. This model allows an accurate evaluation of the thermal hydraulic performance for steam generation systems with complex network and various heat flux profiles at the steam pressure from subcritical to ultra-supercritical condition. In the proposed model, pressure, mass flow rate and enthalpy of working fluid for each pipe can be obtained, which are in turn used to perform detailed thermal hydraulic evaluation to clarify the potential risks related to heat transfer deterioration. The model was built through the balances for mass, momentum and energy. The pressureflow rate relationship was derived based on the basic formula of the pressure drop through a single pipe. Based on the mass balance of a single node, the pressure equation was obtained by rearranging the pressure-flow rate relationship. Consequently, the pressures of target components were obtained by solving the pressure equation set, and then the mass flow rate in each pipe was updated using the calculated pressure values. Based on the proposed model, two engineering projects, a power plant boiler and a Shell gasifier, have been evaluated to validate the accuracy of the model.