An Energy Analysis of Condenser

Abstract

The conventional steam power plant working under, the Rankine Cycle and the steam condenser as a heat sink and the steam boiler, as a heat source have the same importance for the power plant operating process. Energy efficiency of the coal fired power plant strongly depends on its turbine-condenser system operation mode. Operating the condenser at optimum circulation water flow rate is essentially important to ensure maximum efficiency and minimum operating cost of the plant. To control the condenser variables like cooling water flow rate, condenser pressure, condenser temperature having vital importance on entire plant performance. For the given thermal power plant configuration, cooling water temperature or/and flow rate change generate alterations in the condenser pressure. Those changes have great influence on the energy efficiency of the plant. This project focuses on the influence of the cooling water temperature and flow rate on the condenser performance, and thus on the specific heat rate of the coal fired plant and its energy efficiency. Variations in condenser backpressure about design can impact the economic operation of a turbo generator unit in terms not only of heat rate, but also of the cost of chemicals used to compensate for the dissolved oxygen concentration in both the condensate and feed water. These effects can be adjusted by employing means to control condenser backpressure and this paper examines how the costs of these effects can be evaluated and suggests some approaches for the active control of backpressure. Reference plant Rayapati Power Generation Pvt. Ltd., Rajnandgaon working under turbine follow mode with a close cycle cooling system having capacity of 7.5 MW situated at Thakurtola village near Rajnandgoan district under state of Chhattisgarh, India. The study revealed that when plant runs at full load, the parameters like condenser pressure, heat rate, fuel consumption and cycle efficiency affected by cooling water flow rate. i.e. operating the condenser at optimum cooling water mass flow rate 1800m3/h instead of current flow rate 1536.45 m3/h and plant input decreases as 7326048 Rs./year.