Thermal–hydraulic simulation of a radiant steam boiler using Relap5 computer code

Numerical simulations are nowadays increasingly used to assess the thermal–hydraulic behavior of a steam boiler instead of carrying out expensive tests in experimental facilities. In the present work, the Relap5/Mod3.2 thermal–hydraulic computer code, which is largely used in the nuclear engineering framework, is used to carry out a tube rupture transient of a high power industrial steam boiler. For this purpose a Relap5 model was developed and qualified at the steady-state conditions using the plant available data. The control and regulation systems are also modeled. The main outcome of this work is a successful application of a thermal–hydraulic system code in predicting the main key parameters of an industrial radiant steam boiler under steady and transient operating conditions.

► We study the consequences of a tube rupture transient of a high power industrial steam boiler.
► We used the best estimate thermal–hydraulic system code Relap5/Mod3.2.
► The model was capable of predicting correctly the evolution of the key thermal–hydraulic parameters.
► The developed model could be used for design or operating procedures improvement.