Lonely steam generator arriving at Kursk NPP 2
reddit.com/gallery/rravvm
reddit.comPosted Dec 29, 2021, 3:36 PM UTC
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reddit.comSurprised this isn t transported by rail.
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I am curious if unit 2 equipment will be delivered differently, since this one has been quite slow.
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Notice the position of the inlets and outlets on the generator. It is designed to be installed and operated horizontally rather than vertically like in Western designs. This system is more durable long term.
Why is that? What would give it longevity?
On a side note, it reminds me of long horizontal separator drums on RBMK-equipped powerplants, instead of cyclone separators for Western BWRs.
That would all depend on many factors. There is nothing inherit in being oriented horizontally that would offer better performance or reliability unless you are comparing to a vertically oriented steam generator that regularly uncovers its tubes, which would likely lead to more IGSCC, but I believe that most designs maintain the tubes submerged because of that.
This is a fairly dim recollection from undergrad, but if I'm remembering correctly it's because there's less likelihood of contaminants on the secondary side plating out onto the tube support plates and impeding the secondary side flow.
No one really knows as what's going on is highly complex, phd level. It was an accidental discovery but that's what the results are when the two are compared.