Optimization of the circulating water pumping system in power plants
- GEC ALSTHOM Bergeron, Fontenay-sous-bois (France)
- GEC ALSTHOM Fluid and Mechanical Group, Whetstone Leicester (United Kingdom)
- GEC ALSTHOM Bergeron, Monroe, NC (United States)
The correct operation of power plants is dependent on the function of its major systems. The pumping station supplying cooling water is one such element. Cooling water systems in fossil fired and nuclear power plants are fed by pumps that must, without fail, run intensively. A shut down would automatically lead to a shut down of the plant unit it serves., e.g., a reduction of power output. The role of such pumps and the associated system is crucial and therefore cannot be compared with a drainage or irrigation pumping station that also handles large flows at low total head pressures. Operational reliability is of the utmost importance in the main circulating water systems. Pumping stations have increased in size following the turbine size rise. At one time a capacity of 130,000 USGPM was considered large, today`s requirements can be in the order of 2,600,000 USGPM. However, it is not just size that has increased, modern environmental considerations and economics require greater efficiency in all aspects, reductions in energy consumed, water usage, maintenance costs, etc. The once relatively simple principles that were taken into consideration in choice of equipment are no longer adaptable to the scale of current requirements. Optimization of not just the pumps but the complete integrated system as a whole must be paramount. This paper attempts to address the optimization of the complete system.
- OSTI ID:
- 455348
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-961006-; ISBN 0-7918-1789-9; TRN: 97:012063
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1996 international joint power generation conference, Houston, TX (United States), 13-17 Oct 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the 1996 international joint power generation conference. Volume 3: Nuclear -- Trends in power production; Nuclear power plant operation; Nuclear fuel utilization, storage, and disposal; NE-Volume 20; Laudenat, R.T. [ed.]; PB: 76 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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