Failure-cause analysis: condenser and associated systems. Volume 1. Final report

Technical Report · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:5241618

Bell, R J; Impagliazzo, A M; Mussalli, Y G

Steam surface condensers and their associated systems are a frequent cause of generating losses resulting from outages, load reductions, and poor performance. This study, presented in two volumes, was initiated to determine the effects of condenser and associated system problems on power plant availability and performance. Data were received from 415 power plant units, and visits were made to selected utilities. The most significant problems were in the areas of tube and tubesheet fouling, intake blockage, tube failures, traveling water screens, heater drain pumps, condensate pumps, feedwater heater tube failures, vacuum priming systems, and circulating water pumps. Fouling is the most outstanding reason for lost generating capacity, either through availability or performance loss. The main conclusion drawn from this study is that there is a need for definitive industry guidelines for condensers and intakes. Developmental work should be carried out on intake designs and intake retrofits, which will help to mitigate the effects of macrofouling and possibly to assist in microfouling control at the same time. New concepts, such as greater modularization and replaceable tube bundles, should be considered for increasing condenser reliability.

• Research Organization: Stone and Webster Engineering Corp., Boston, MA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5241618
• Report Number(s): EPRI-CS-2378-Vol.1; ON: DE82905783
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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