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Steam generator structure: Continuous model and constructal design
Author(s) -
Kim Y.,
Lorente S.,
Bejan A.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.1694
Subject(s) - constructal law , boiler (water heating) , generator (circuit theory) , mechanics , flow (mathematics) , heat transfer , turbulence , volume (thermodynamics) , mechanical engineering , single phase , engineering , thermodynamics , physics , electrical engineering , power (physics)
This study shows that the main features of a steam generator can be determined based on the method of constructal design. The generator is endowed with freedom to morph, and then is optimized by putting the right components in the right places. The number of steam tubes is sufficiently large, so that the steam generator may be modeled as continuous. The total volume of the assembly and the volume of the steam tubes are fixed. The geometry is free to vary in the search for maximum heat transfer density. The steam flow in the tubes is modeled in two ways: single‐phase and two‐phase fully developed turbulent flow. Results of the analysis are: the location of the flow reversal (i.e. the demarcation between the tubes of the downcomer and those of the riser), the optimal spacing between adjacent tubes, and the number of tubes for the downcomer and the riser. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.