Analysis on temperature filed of outer containment of the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant

To control concrete quality of outer containment of the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant, thermal field out of concrete hydration was simulated, and appropriate curing measures were proposed. Based on hydration degree concept and equivalent age concept, equivalent age-hydration degree curve (EAHDC) of C55 concrete, used in outer containment, was developed. To consider effects of age and temperature on heat releasing process of hydration, EAHDC was employed in simulation of thermal field using subroutine HETVAL provided by ABAQUS software. Effects of height and thickness of the construction layer, shape and size of the hole, the efficiency of insulation and the curing period on temperature field were separately studied. Comparisons and analysis show: EAHDC can be used in thermal field simulation to take effects of age and temperature on heat releasing process of hydration into account; effect from height of construction layer is negligible while the height is in the range of 2.35-3.60 m; the increment of thickness results in higher peak temperature, and insulation layer with a convection transfer rate of 1.8-5.4 W/(m²·°C) and curing period of 10 days with formwork are recommended.