Chapter six

Steam Power Plant

Condenser and Cooling Tower

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 STEAM CONDENSERS
The heat transfer device in which the
exhaust steam of a turbine or an engine is
condensed by means of cooling water at
pressure below atmospheric, is called
Steam Condenser.
 CONDENSATE
The condensed Steam is called

Condensate and can be again

returned to Boiler. It saves the cost

of water.
 PRINCIPLE OF CONDENSATION
 In order to attain maximum work, according to
Carnot principle, the heat must be supplied at
Maximum pressure and temperature and should
be rejected at Minimum pressure and
temperature.

 The steam from the steam turbine or steam

engine could be exhausted to atmosphere in such
a manner that the back pressure would below the
atmospheric pressure.
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 ADVANTAGES OF CONDENSERS

•It increases the work output per kg of steam supplied

to the power plant.
•Improves the thermal efficiency of power plant.
•Saves the cost of water to be supplied to boiler.
ELEMENTS OF CONDENSING PLANT

 CONDENSER: In which the

exhaust steam of the turbine is
condensed by circulating cooling
water.

 CONDENSATE EXTRACTION
PUMP: to remove the
condensate from the condenser
and feed it into the hot-well. The
feed water from hot-well is
further pumped to boiler.
ELEMENTS OF CONDENSING PLANT

 AIR EXTRACTION PUMP: to

remove air from the condenser,
such a pump is called dry air
pump. If air and condensate both
are removed, it is called as wet
air pump.

 CIRCULATING PUMP: used to

supply feed water either from
river or from the cooling tower
pond to the condenser.
ELEMENTS OF CONDENSING PLANT

 COOLING TOWER:
1. The Ferro concrete made
device (hyperbolic shape) in
which the hot water from the
condenser is cooled by
rejecting heat to current of
air passing in the counter
direction.
2. Ring troughs are placed 8-
10m above the ground level.
 TYPES OF CONDENSERS

 JET CONDENSERS  SURFACE CONDENSERS

The cooling water flows through a
The exhaust steam and cooling
network of tubes and the exhaust
water come in direct contact. As
steam passes over these tubes.
a result, the steam is condensed. The steam gets condensed due to
It is also called direct contact heat transfer to coolant by
condensers. conduction and convection.
 COMPARISION
S.No
Jet condensers Surface condensers
1. Steam and water comes in direct Steam and water does not come in direct
contact. contact.
2. Condensation is due to mixing of Condensation is due to heat transfer by
coolant. conduction and convection.
3. Condensate is not fit for use as Condensate is fit for reuse as boiler feed.
boiler feed until the treated cooling
water is supplied.
4. It is cheap. Does not affect plant It is costly. Improves the plant efficiency.
efficiency.
5. Maintenance cost is low. Maintenance cost is high.

6. Vacuum created is up to 600 mm of Vacuum created is up to 730 mm of Hg.

Hg.
 MERITS AND DEMERITS OF JET CONDENSERS

 MERITS  DEMERITS
1. Less quantity of cooling 1. The condensate is a waste.
water is required to 2. Less suitable for high
condense the steam. capacity plants.
2. Simple in construction and 3. Large length of pipes
low in cost. required, hence piping cost
3. Does not require cooling is high.
water pump. 4. Loss of vacuum due to
4. Less space is required. leakage of air from long
5. Low maintenance cost. pipings.
 MERITS AND DEMERITS OF SURFACE CONDENSERS

 MERITS  DEMERITS
1. No mixing of cooling water and
steam, hence the condensate 1. Require large quantity of cooling
directly pumped into the boiler. water.
2. Any kind of feed water can be
used. 2. System is complicated, costly and
3. Develops high vacuum, requires high maintenance cost.
therefore suitable fro large
power plants. 3. Require large floor space since it
4. Require less power to run the
air extraction and water is bulky.
extraction pump.
5. System is more efficient.
Cooling Tower
 Heat Rejection
 A cooling tower is a heat transfer device.
 A cooling tower will reject heat from water that is
circulated through a chillers shell & tube condenser.
 How Cooling Towers Work
 Warm water leaving the condenser is pumped to the top of the
tower.
 This water is then distributed through spray nozzles or troughs
through the wet deck surface (fill media) so that it may be
brought in contact with outdoor air.
 This causes a small portion of the water to be evaporated.
This evaporation removes heat from the remaining water.
 The cooled water collect is a sump at the bottom of the tower
where it is returned to the condenser to pick up additional load
and repeat the cycle.
 Cooling Tower Design

 When air circulation is provided by a fan or blower

the tower is called a mechanical draft tower.

 Induced draft: Draws air through the tower

 Force draft: Blows air through the tower.

 Cooling Tower Design

 Induced Draft
 Counterflow Cooling
Tower

 Air goes up
 Water goes down
 Cooling Tower Design
 Induced Draft
 Crossflow Cooling
Tower

 Air goes across

 Water goes down
 Cooling Tower Design

 Hyperbolic Natural
Draft
 Counterflow Cooling
Tower
 Cooling Tower Design
 Atmospheric Spray
Tower
 Cooling Tower Design
 Forced Draft
 Counterflow Cooling
Tower
 Application of Cooling Towers
 1. When selecting the
location, sufficient
clearance should be
allowed for the free flow Wind
of air to the inlet of the
tower and for its
discharge from the tower.
 Obstructions will reduce
airflow causing a
reduction in capacity.
 Application of Cooling Towers
 2. Cooling towers should be
located so that noise created
by air or water is not a source
of annoyance.
 3. Cooling tower location
should be such that the air
discharge will not cause Wind Water Noise
condensation on nearby
surfaces or wetting because of
drift.
 Application of Cooling Towers
 4. The tower should be
located away from source
of exhaust heat and
contamination.
 Application of Cooling Towers
 5. Each cooling tower should be
located and positioned to prevent
the introduction of the warm
discharge air and the associated
drift. This drift may contain
chemical or biological
contaminants.