Simplified Models for Some Thermodynamic Properties of Saturated Water in a Pressurized Water Reactor

Abstract

The properties of water and steam in a pressurized water reactor (PWR) need constant monitoring to understand what goes on in the PWR. Such properties include the thermodynamic properties, namely, specific volume, specific enthalpy, specific entropy and specific heat. This work is focused on calculating these properties of saturated water by using a simplified model within the temperature range that is applicable to PWR. The model parameters for each property were calculated using the Solver tool in Microsoft Excel 2007 with the reference values of these properties calculated using equations given by the International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam Industrial Formulation 1997 (IAPWS IF97). The results obtained indicated that the four-parameter model gave the best fit for each property for the temperature range of 533 to 623 K. The maximum and average deviations for specific volume, specific enthalpy, specific entropy and specific heat are respectively 0.20 and 1.29%; 0.04 and 0.17%; 0.02 and 0.11%; and 0.91% and 2.59%.

Keywords: Pressurized water reactor (PWR), correlations, thermodynamic properties, saturated water