Heat transfer augmentation in liquid metal reactor steam generators

The use of heat transfer augmentation devices has been proposed as a means for reducing the cost of steam generators for advanced LMR designs by approximately 25%. Experimental results are presented for two types of enhancers in the form of a twisted-tape and a core-tube insert in the steam tube of a 13.1-m-long, sodium-heated single-tube test section. Test parameters were prototypical of liquid metal reactor (LMR) steam generator design for a once-through high-pressure steam cycle. Heat transfer results are compared with the no-insert case on an overall and local basis. Although both augmentations increased overall performance, the mechanisms were different