Development of the thermal performance model using temperature gradient analysis for optimized design of steam surface condenser

Abstract

This paper presents a new method of evaluating the thermal performance of a steam condenser based on the temperature gradient between steam and cooling water. With reference to the experimental re- sults, the pressure transition temperature (PTT), defined as the limiting cooling water temperature ini- tiating insufficient heat removal over the applied heat load, was identified. An analytical methodology was developed to estimate the PTT for given geometrical and thermal-hydraulic conditions of the con- denser system. The methodology was extended to a temperature gradient analysis (TGA) model for the performance evaluation of power plant-scale condensers by considering the effects of condensate inunda- tion, tube loading pattern, steam shear, and fouling resistance. The assessment results of the TGA model showed good agreement with existing numerical and lumped-volume models, as well as measurement data of existing power-plant condenser systems. Its simplicity and strong capability to elucidate most of the design variables of the condenser make the TGA model suitable for executing many iterative calcula- tions required when designing and optimizing the new condenser system.