Establishing Scaling Criteria of Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor Intermediate Heat Exchanger through Finite Element Modeling

In PFBR, Intermediate Heat Exchanger (IHX) is used to transfer heat from Primary Sodium to Secondary Sodium. A scaled down model of PFBR IHX has been designed as per design code rules of RCC-MR. In this scaled down model, main portion of IHX like tube sheets, tubes and down comer are designed innovatively. The ligament efficiency and radial & circumferential hole pattern are simulated for top & bottom tube sheets. A 2D Axis-symmetric finite element model of the scaled down model has been made and detailed structural analysis has been carried out via software called CAST3 M. Design and development of a scaled down model to simulate the deformation as well as stress distribution realistically, establishing the test setup and procedures for causing crack initiation and depicting the enhanced understanding of RCC-MR design procedures of tube sheets specific to heat exchanger are the novel features of this paper.