Pressure drop measurements across a Helical Coil Steam Generator configuration

The primary heat transport loop heat exchanger within a Very-High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) is most commonly a Helical Coil Steam Generator (HCSG). This design has been regarded as having increased heat transfer within a smaller design in comparison to other heat exchangers. The fluidic heat transfer properties of the HCSG is still under evaluation in tangent with HTRs due to its complex design. Heat transfer between these layers relies heavily on their relative location and fluidic properties. A model was constructed to study the pressure field on a rod's surface as well as across multiple layers of helically facing tubes. Experiments focused on evaluating the impact relative geometry played on the overall pressure drop of the test section with inlet fluid velocity ranging from 0 to 3 m/s. A study to compare the experimental results with the Gaddis-Gnielinski Correlative theoretical values of pressure drop in tube bundles shows that the complex helical geometry results in pressure drops similar to that of fully developed rod bundle although the test facility is comprised of two half rod helical coils.