Modeling and optimization of steam dryer for removal of lead–bismuth droplets

Removal of lead–bismuth droplets from steam flow is a crucial issue in the direct contact boiling lead–bismuth cooled fast reactor. Droplets are generated due to the boiling of water directly in the reactor chimney, where steam for the turbine is generated. The droplets could severely damage the turbine and therefore a steam dryer is used for their removal. This paper presents an optimization of the main steam dryer geometrical parameters and steam inlet velocity. The Lagrangian method is used, in which first the steam flow field is developed using the CFD code FrontFlow/Red and then the particle motion is simulated. It was found that the reduction of the plate spacing can improve the steam dryer performance without a significant increase of pressure drop, the wane pitch has a value after which the steam dryer performance is not significantly improved, the number of wanes of 1.5 was selected at this point, however, a more detailed model is necessary to arrive at the final conclusion. The optimum steam inlet velocity should be found using a detailed economical assessment. Velocities between 2 and 4 m/s seem to be reasonable to achieve good removal efficiency and keep the pressure drop at reasonable values.