One-way coupled three-dimensional fluid-structure interaction analysis of zigzag-channel supercritical CO2 printed circuit heat exchangers

Printed circuit heat exchangers (PCHEs), with supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO(2)) as the working fluid, are being considered for use as recuperators and condensers in Brayton cycles for Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) projects as well as other power generation and heat transfer applications. A few experimental and numerical structural assessments of these PCHEs have been conducted, but all have been somewhat limited due to the difficulty measuring actual stresses in an operating PCHE and the computer resources needed to accurately conduct a fluid-structure interaction (FSI) examination using finite element analysis (FEA). This paper examines a previous pseudo two-dimensional (2D) study of a sodium-sCO(2) PCHE, linear elastic model and multilinear elastic hardening model results are included. Next, previously unperformed, three-dimensional (3D) one-way coupled FSI studies of two notional zigzag-channel, sCO(2) PCHEs are conducted. All results are evaluated against the stress intensity limits set forth by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) Sections III and VIII. Most of the examined PCHEs meet the requirements for general use but exceed the maximum allowable stress intensities for application as nuclear components.