Effects of fouling deposition on CAP1400 steam generator thermal-hydraulic performance via a coupled fouling–thermal-hydraulic model

Key Points

• Fouling deposition significantly reduces thermal-hydraulic performance in steam generators, impacting heat transfer efficiency.
• The study shows that elevated fouling levels can decrease performance metrics by approximately 20% under varying conditions.
• Assessment using a coupled fouling-thermal-hydraulic model highlights the complex interactions between fouling and thermal performance.
• Understanding fouling consequences may enable better maintenance strategies to optimize thermal-hydraulic performance.