Research on Flow Field Characteristics of Pipeline Flow Control Device Based on CFD

Nuclear power is crucial to the energy sector, comprising 16% of global energy. With heightened safety demands, this paper focuses on the issue of high Venturi flowmeter readings at low loads in a nuclear plant's Feedwater Flow Control (ARE) system. The ARE system's role is to regulate flow to the steam generator, maintaining water levels within set limits. Venturi flowmeters, known for their simple design and reliability, are commonly used in industrial flow measurement, including nuclear plant feedwater systems. Measurement accuracy is vital for control system performance and overall industrial safety. This study uses Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to model the three-dimensional flow field of a Venturi flowmeter, employing the k-SST turbulence model. The research analyzes flow characteristics and outflow coefficient under varying loads. Findings reveal that the outflow coefficient increases with Reynolds number, while surface roughness and welding irregularities lead to falsely high flowmeter readings.