Aerodynamics noise analysis inside multi-stage Tesla valves for superheated steam decompression

Tesla valves are suitable for pressure reduction of superheated steam within the temperature and pressure regulation systems of nuclear power plants. However, under high-temperature and high-pressure operating conditions, the compressibility of steam gives rise to considerable aerodynamic noise during the throttling and pressure reduction processes in traditional Tesla valve designs. The noise not only deteriorates equipment performance but also raises critical operational safety concerns. Focusing on the structural and performance optimization of steam pressure-reducing valves in nuclear power plants, the study introduces a progressively expanding Tesla valve structure. Through numerical modeling, the investigation systematically explores the relationship between various structural parameters of the Tesla valve and aerodynamic noise, utilizing velocity, turbulent kinetic energy, and local temperature as primary evaluation metrics. The results demonstrate that the progressively expanding Tesla valve structure effectively reduces flow velocity, decreases turbulence, and increases local temperature. These combined effects contribute to the suppression of aerodynamic noise in high-temperature, high-pressure steam environments. Furthermore, parametric studies reveal the influence of specific geometric characteristics on noise performance. Optimized design strategies for achieving low-noise Tesla valves include a small entrance width, a reduced inner curve radius, a small channel depth, a moderate valve angle, a high expansion coefficient, an extended transition part length, and multi-stage configurations. The findings offer a robust foundation for further development and implementation of Tesla valves in temperature and pressure reduction systems for nuclear power plants.