Stress and Fatigue Analysis of Pressurizer Surge Line under Thermal Stratification

Abstract

Pressurizer surge line is one of the key equipments of nuclear power plants. The thermal stratification due to the intersection of hot and cold fluids inside the pressurizer surge line may affect the safe operation of nuclear power plant. In order to investigate the stress distribution and fatigue characteristics of surge line subjected to long-term thermal stratified loadings, a mechanical model of the surge line was established. And then, according to different temperature distribution assumptions, thermal stress analysis and fatigue assessment were conducted. The results show that the maximum stress appears under the load condition with maximum temperature difference, and finer temperature distribution can obtain more accurate stress and displacement results. The maximum value of fatigue cumulative coefficient appears at the junction of straight pipe and elbow with large temperature difference.