Thermal and aerodynamic characteristics of air cooled condenserfor steam turbine power unit

   THE PURPOSE. Increased water consumption at power plants leads to a deterioration of the environmental situation not only in countries with limited water supply sources, but also in countries with significant reserves of fresh water. There is a need to consider the possibility of using an air condenser as an alternative use in industrial water supply systems at a power plant. To present a methodology for calculating the main characteristics of a condenser (condensation and reflux sections), to estimate the aerodynamic resistance and fan power for an air-cooled condenser as part of a steam turbine power unit. Determine the influence of air temperature and pressure in the condenser on the calculation of the air condenser. To develop recommendations for the selection of parameters of air condensers operating as part of steam turbine power units.

   METHODS. Methods for designing heat exchangers, modeling and intensifying heat exchange processes were used in the course of calculating an air condenser unit.

   RESULTS. A method for calculating an air-cooled condenser for a 110 MW condensing turbine has been developed. The analysis of the calculation of the heat transfer coefficient is given. The analysis of the values of the heat exchange area of the condensing unit is presented. The effect of pressure in the condenser on the main calculated characteristics of the condenser is shown. Recommendations for the selection of the fan capacity in the condenser and the design temperature of the cooling air have been developed.

   CONCLUSION. The issue of using air coolers in the power industry is still poorly covered in the literature, however, environmental problems and the shortage of fresh water are becoming more and more urgent all over the world. The development of air-cooling systems is a very topical issue for modern power engineering. It is shown that for stationary installations of condensation of water vapor, the most suitable is the hipped-roof arrangement of the heat-exchange sections with the lower arrangement of the fans. Quantitative estimates of the change in the heat transfer coefficient and the area of the heat-exchange surface are given for the pressure range of 8…20 kPa. The power consumption of the fan depends significantly on the temperature of the cooling air and the vacuum in the condenser.

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