Enhanced tubes for steam condensers. Volume 1, Summary of condensation and fouling; Volume 2, Detailed study of steam condensation

Technical Report · Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10143705· OSTI ID:10143705

Webb, R L; Chamra, L; Jaber, H

Electric utility steam condensers typically use plain tubes made of titanium, stainless steel, or copper alloys. Approximately two-thirds of the total thermal resistance is on the water side of the plain tube. This program seeks to conceive and develop a tube geometry that has special enhancement geometries on the tube (water) side and the steam (shell) side. This ``enhanced`` tube geometry, will provide increased heat transfer coefficients. The enhanced tubes will allow the steam to condense at a lower temperature. The reduced condensing temperature will reduce the turbine heat rate, and increase the plant peak load capability. Water side fouling and fouling control is a very important consideration affecting the choice of the tube side enhancement. Hence, we have consciously considered fouling potential in our selection of the tube side surface geometry. Using appropriate correlations and theoretical models, we have designed condensation and water side surface geometries that will provide high performance and be cleanable using sponge ball cleaning. Commercial tube manufacturers have made the required tube geometries for test purposes. The heat transfer test program includes measurement of the condensation and water side heat transfer coefficients. Fouling tests are being run to measure the waterside fouling resistance, and to the test the ability of the sponge ball cleaning system to clean the tubes.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FC07-88ID12708
• OSTI ID: 10143705
• Report Number(s): DOE/ID/12708-T1; ON: DE92014307
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: Feb 1992
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
TUBES
HEAT TRANSFER
FOULING
STEAM CONDENSERS
TITANIUM ALLOYS
CORROSION
STAINLESS STEELS
COPPER ALLOYS
VAPOR CONDENSATION
ENERGY CONSERVATION
CLEANING
CORROSION RESISTANCE
320303
360105
EQUIPMENT AND PROCESSES
CORROSION AND EROSION