Combustion engineering: steam generator tube bending practices

The tube bending practices and procedures employed by Combustion Engineering (CE), when bending inconel tubing is discussed. CE has two different type tube geometries in the steam generator. The innermost tubes are 1800 U-bends while the majority of the tubes have two (2) 900 bends with a straight leg between these 900 bends. The first 18 rows have U-bends (2 1/2'' to 11''R), while the remaining tubes have the double 900 geometry. All double 900 bends are bent to a 10'' radius. This presentation will address the following important parameters necessary to achieve a high quality bent tube: fabrication requirements at the tube mill; tube bending equipment; tube bending operation; inspection and final preparation; and packaging