Structural and Thermal Analysis of the Pressure Vessel of VVER-1200 Nuclear Reactor Using ANSYS Software
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.38032/scse.2025.3.18Keywords:
Low carbon energy, VVER-1200, Pressure Vessel, ANSYSAbstract
The efficient and safe operation of nuclear reactors significantly depends on the performance and integrity of their components, especially pressure vessels, because, pressure vessel is irreplaceable and the total lifetime of the NPP depends on the lifespan of the pressure vessel. Anticipating the thermo-mechanical behavior of pressure vessels in a nuclear power plant is essential to designing them effectively and averting failures during operation. The objective of this study is to analyze the structural and thermal analysis of the pressure vessel of the VVER-1200 reactor. The thermos-mechanical parameters such as deformation, stress, strain, temperature distribution, and heat flux of the pressure vessel have been evaluated with ANSYS software. Using ANSYS, thermal distribution simulations under steady-state structural conditions reveal critical temperature gradients and peak temperatures and stress and deformation. Structural analysis assesses stress and strain from thermal expansion and operational loads, identifying high-stress regions and potential deformation. According to regulatory standards, the ANSYS software simulation results are deemed to be within permissible bounds. Reactor operators will find the simulation findings useful in comparing data collected during any changes to the structural and thermal integrity of the reactor pressure vessel during normal and abnormal operation of the reactor. Moreover, the combined thermal and structural analysis offers a comprehensive understanding of the pressure vessel’s behavior in the VVER-1200 reactor, aiding in enhancing operational safety. This kind of research can be used to both typical and unusual circumstances at Bangladesh's Rooppur VVER-1200 nuclear power facilities, which are expected to be operational by 2025/2026.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Shah Nusrat Jahan Shanta, Israth Jahan Asha, Tasnia Umma Tahia, Abdus Sattar Mollah (Author)
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