Product Summary

RHEOTHERM ®

Circulating Water Flow and Fouling Sensor*

A revolutionary step toward more

efficient condenser operation

This unique sensor allows you – for

the first time – to positively differentate
between steam-side and water-side
causes of excessive back pressure.
CWFF sensors installed on tube sheet. Waterbox compatible epoxy
Where traditional approaches lump all
adhesive seals the units in place and protects signal transmission wiring.
condenser performance degradations
into the cleanliness factor, the CWFF
provides the keystone measurement for
advanced analysis to distinguish individu-
al root causes.
The flow rate and temperature rise of
circulating water in individual tubes can
now be directly measured. Typically,
four to twelve sensors are installed at
selected locations in the outlet water box.
These individual measurements are used
to characterize baseline conditions and
provide continuous monitoring across
the tube sheet. Trending data reveals
root causes for poor performance, i.e.,
micro-fouling, macro-fouling, air binding,
or circulating water pump performance
changes.
The Rheotherm CWFF sensor is a valu-
able tool for decision makers, providing
accurate, real time data for more pre-
cise identification of water-side causes
of condenser problems. It reduces the
manhours spent in
physical inspections
and diagnostic analysis,
permits more orderly
maintenance scheduling,
and lowers the risk of
untimely outages.
Features:
• Measures multiple individual tube flows and temperatures for
bundle evaluation
• Calculates total circulating water flow rate
• Identifies trends caused by tube fouling
• Maintenance-free operation with no moving parts
• Compatibility with power plant chemicals
• Does not impede fluid flow or tube cleaning
Benefits:
• Positive indication of the need for cleaning or reverse flushing
• Quantifies extent to which condenser efficiency is affected by
water-side fouling, including debris, biologic growths and scaling
• Provides data for accurate determination of heat transfer coefficient
• Monitors the effectiveness of pre-screening, water treatment,
cleaning systems, and reverse flushing
Output:
Data is stored locally and is also accessible through Modbus
TCP/IP or OPC.
Optional local display shows measured values of flow rate and tem-
perature and calculated values of total circulating water flow, as well
as other specified elements.
All Rheotherm and RheoVac® instruments are manufactured under an
ISO-9001:2008 Certified Quality Assurance program.
* Patent Pending
 U.S. Patent Nos: 4,942,763; 4,949,578; 5,485,754; 5,752,411; 6,526,755; 7,065,970; 7,926,277
The gateway to improved condenser performance, fast Specifications
response maintenance, and optimized operations Tube Size Compatibility
Inserts in the rolled tube ends of the
The sensor system measures and displays circulating water flow rate and outlet water box tubesheet
tube outlet water temperature. Deviations from normal can identify macro-
fouling (caused by inlet debris), bio-fouling, and diminished pump capacity. Response Time
1 second
Normal Clean Operation
Normal
Normal Clean Clean Operation
Operation
Macro-Fouling
Macro Fouling
Macro Fouling Time Constant (63% of flow change)
3 to 5 seconds (typical)
10 10 100 10100 10 100 100
Cleanliness
Cleanliness (no axis) (no axis) Cleanliness
Cleanliness (no axis) (no axis)
8 8 8 8

Temperature [F] Repeatability

Temperature [F]
Temperature [F]

Temperature [F]
95 95
Flow [ft/sec]

Flow [ft/sec]
95 95
Flow [ft/sec]

Flow [ft/sec]

6 6 6 6

4 4
90
4
90
4
90 90
± 0.5% of reading (typical)
2 2 2 2
Accuracy
Better than ± 2% of reading
Normal Clean Operation
Normal Clean Operation Macro Fouling
Macro Fouling
0
10 0 85
100 085
10 0 85
100 85
10 Time Time 100 Time Time 10 100
Cleanliness (no axis) Cleanliness (no axis)
Debris obstruction atT ube
inlet tube Enclosure
Cleanliness (no axis) Cleanliness (no axis)
Steady
8
Uniformnormal
8
Uniformoperation,
Condenser at design
Bio Fouling/Scaling
8 8
Plugged Sensor
[F]

[F]
Condenser Bio Fouling/Scaling Plugged Sensor T ube
[F]

[F]
sheet decreases the number of
95 95
flow rate and outlet temperature.
Flow [ft/sec]Flow [ft/sec]

Flow [ft/sec]Flow [ft/sec]

10695 95
Flow [ft/sec]

Flow [ft/sec]

10 100 10 100
• Standard: NEMA 4
106 100 100
Temperature

Temperature
Temperature

Temperature
6 6

active tubes, and increases flow

Cleanliness
Cleanliness (no axis) (no axis) Cleanliness
Cleanliness (no axis) (no axis)
84 8 84 8
4 4
Display
[F]

[F]
90 90
[F]

[F]
velocities in the active 95 tubes.
90
95 90
95
Flow [ft/sec]

Flow [ft/sec]

95
Temperature

Temperature
6 6
Temperature

Temperature
62 2 62 2
40 4
0 85 4085 4
0
Obstructed Time Tube 90 with85
85 • LCD (Optional)

INTEK, Rheotherm and RheoVac are registered trademarks of INTEK, Inc.

Time 90 90 Time 90

Micro-Fouling
Time

PluggedSensor Installed Output

2 2 2 2
Uniform Condenser Bio Fouling/Scaling
Uniform Condenser Bio Fouling/Scaling Sensor T ube
Plugged Sensor T ube
• Modbus TCP/IP
0
10 0 85
100 10085 0 85
100 85
10 Time Time 100 10 Time Time 100
Cleanliness (no axis) Cleanliness (no axis)

• OPC
Cleanliness (no axis) Cleanliness (no axis)
8 8 8 8
Temperature [F]

Temperature [F]
Temperature [F]

Temperature [F]

95 95 95 95
Flow [ft/sec]

Flow [ft/sec]
Flow [ft/sec]

Flow [ft/sec]

Input Power
6 6 6 6

4 4 4 4
• 85-250 Vac; UPS recommended
90 90 90 90
2 2 2 2

0 0
Time Time
85 085 0
Time Time
85 85 Installation
Gradual (uniform or preferential) Flow signal drops suddenly due to Intek’s experienced technicians perform sys-
coating of tubes with biological obstruction of a single monitored tem installation and provide start-up support
growth or scaling deposits is tube, and temperature rises. This as required.
indicated by a decreasing trend type of event is the reason that
in calculated cleanliness factor. multiple sensors are installed to In-Depth Studies in Support of Your
Severe micro-fouling may reduce obtain accurate total flow measure- Continuous Monitoring Program
flow through tubes. ment. Intek, Inc. offers advanced performance
analysis and design improvements of steam

© 2011 by INTEK, Inc. Printed in U.S.A.

Rheotherm tube fouling meters, when used in conjunction with RheoVac surface condensers. Intek’s proprietary
air in-leakage detection systems, give you complete condenser diagnostic analysis methods identify individual sources
capability to maintain quality performance. Only Rheotherm and RheoVac of excess back pressure that can only be
instruments can provide valuable and verifiable data on:
aggregated in the cleanliness factor by the
• Air in-leakage • Circulating water flow rate commonly used average value analysis
• Tube fouling • Individual tube and bundle heat transfer coefficient techniques.
• Vacuum quality • Tube bundle flow and thermal profile The CWFF is one of many instruments
• Exhauster capacity • Individual tube bundle performance providing data used in these analyses.
Other instruments manufactured by Intek
Specifications subject to change

to improve condenser performance and for

For assistance with any condenser performance issue, contact analysis include the RheoVac condenser
an application engineer at INTEK, Your Process Flow Partner. monitor, saturated steam pressure and
Call 800-RheoVac (743-6822) temperature sensor, waterside differential
pressure transducer, and precision thermo-
couples. Together, these instruments form a
Bulletin #CWFF511

INTEK, INC. complete condenser monitoring system.

751 Intek Way
Westerville, OH 43082-9057 Contact Intek today to see how our unique
Phone: 614-895-0301 instruments and expertise can help you
Fax: 614-895-0319 improve condenser performance, provide
sales@intekflow.com responsive maintenance support and opti-
www.intekflow.com mize plant operations.