Nuclear power has been in the headlines for the last few years, getting more attention as a potential solution to our energy needs. There is a lot of support for it because it can provide low emission electricity. In fact, the expectation is it will reach new records this year, eventually generating more than 10% of global power supplies. New research into helical tubes could be vital here. We want to have a closer look below, then you can speak to us if you want to arrange tube bending services.
SMRs
One of the biggest prospective growth areas in nuclear power is the development of small modular reactors. The SMRs could completely revolutionise the industry. Crucially, they could provide more flexibility, cost savings, and a smaller build time. There is so much potential here that a huge amount of research and development is taking place to develop the idea. The hope is we could see deployments beginning early in the next decade.
One of the key things about SMRs is the importance of helical tubes. They are important for ensuring efficient heat transfer in various systems, including boilers and heat exchangers. Crucially, they can provide better performance than straight tubes and save space in the process.
While helical tubes are vital, there are concerns with them. The major factor is bending them could introduce potential imperfections and flaws. This is possible even when you get high quality tube bending services. Ultimately, it could compromise performance and safety. The new research looks at this, exploring when ovality, eccentricity, and work hardening can become a problem.
Key findings
The main finding from the study is the potential issues differ depending on the wall thickness of the tube.
Helical tubing with thicker walls typically develops higher degrees of eccentricity when you bend it. This basically means that the tubes are not concentric and the wall thickness is inconsistent. It can increase the chance of failure, especially under pressure.
On the other hand, helical tubing with thinner walls tends to display more ovality after bending. As a result, instead of being perfectly round, the tube is “out of round” and technically oval. This can lead to serious problems, including performance and structural issues.
Work hardening can be a serious problem with various materials. The issue is it reduces ductility and increases the chance of cracking. The research finds that a smaller curvature radius leads to more equivalent plastic strain. Ultimately, the work hardening would have an impact on the collapse pressure of the tube.
Do you need to arrange tube bending services?
Multiform Tubes Engineering Ltd has the skills and experience to help clients in various industries, including cutting edge ones like power generation. Crucially, we understand the impact bending can have on tube, including the potential to cause defects. Our goal is to prevent them, using the right equipment to reduce the chance of eccentricity, ovality, and work hardening.
So, if you want high quality tube bending services from a reputable expert, get in touch with us. We’d be happy to offer support and guidance too.