Hydrodynamic characterization and optimization of Contra-push check valve by numerical simulation

This paper introduced the structure and working principle of a new designed check valve, Contra-push check valve (CPCV), which can release water hammer and valve slam in accidents and special working status of nuclear power systems. The steady and transient characteristics of CPCV are simulated by CFD codes. Based on the experimental data, it is shown that the result is highly dependent on the turbulence model. The renormalization group theory (RNG) k–ε model is proved to be more accurate to describe the flow inside the valve. Steady hydraulic characteristics computed with RNG k–ε model agreed well with the experimental data at different positions of the plug. The Sensitivity analysis of structure parameters of CPCV were carried out in this study and two key factors were revealed.

Research highlights► This paper proved that CPCV can release water hammer and valve slam in accidents and abnormal working working conditions of nuclear power systems. ► Two key factors of CPCV design were revealed through the sensitivity analysis of the structure parameters. ► Transient analysis on CPCV aiming at revealing the motion law of the plug through CFD method was successful, and the data was in agreement with the results obtained in loop experiments.