Flow Heat Transfer Characteristics and Dynamic Response of Once-Through Cooling Water System in Nuclear Power Plants Under Complex Operating Conditions

Qian Huang, Yifan Zhi, Rongyong Zhang, Xiaoze Du, Jingqi Zhang and Jingyao Wang ()
Additional contact information
Qian Huang: China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd., Beijing 100840, China
Yifan Zhi: China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd., Beijing 100840, China
Rongyong Zhang: China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd., Beijing 100840, China
Xiaoze Du: Key Laboratory of Condition Monitoring and Control for Power Plant Equipment, North China Electric Power University, Ministry of Education, Beijing 102206, China
Jingqi Zhang: Key Laboratory of Condition Monitoring and Control for Power Plant Equipment, North China Electric Power University, Ministry of Education, Beijing 102206, China
Jingyao Wang: Key Laboratory of Condition Monitoring and Control for Power Plant Equipment, North China Electric Power University, Ministry of Education, Beijing 102206, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-41

Abstract: As a critical component of nuclear power units, the direct cooling water system plays a key role in overall performance. To maintain economic efficiency, it is necessary to adjust the circulating water flow rate as conditions change. Understanding how this system responds dynamically to varying environmental factors—such as seawater temperature and tidal levels—is essential for precise control. While previous studies have explored methods such as variable frequency control, predictive maintenance, and digital twin technologies to optimize system operations, challenges remain in addressing the dynamic response of cooling systems under complex environmental and operational conditions. In this study, the AP1000 was used as the research subject and a comprehensive mathematical model of each part of the cooling water system was built, accounting for delays in processes like pipeline transport. Sensitivity analyses were then carried out to examine how linear disturbances in environmental parameters affect system performance, and how circulating water flow, condenser back pressure, and unit efficiency are interrelated. At the same time, the frequency conversion circulating water pump adaptive adjustment system is used to find the best vacuum conditions according to the change in seawater parameters. The findings offer valuable guidance for enhancing the economic operation of nuclear power plant cooling systems.

Keywords: pump regulation; once-through cooling water system; nuclear power plants; dynamic analysis; energy optimization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/5/1207/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/5/1207/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:5:p:1207-:d:1603172

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().