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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

High-reliability condenser design study. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5283103

Steam condensers are a major source of problems causing poor power-plant availability and efficiency. EPRI sponsored this study to review US and European designs and practices in order to recommend improvements and further research needs. Improved designs to achieve condenser integrity, deaeration, and thermal performance are discussed. These designs include tube-material selections, joints, connections, tube-bundle designs, hot-well deaerators, air-removal capacities, and enhanced-heat-transfer tubes. Designs to improve the performance of condenser-associated systems are also presented. These include macro- and micro-fouling control technologies and improved cooling-water-pump designs. Innovative, but proven, features such as removable tube bundles, multiple tube bundles, and low-tuned turbine foundations can also reduce initial construction costs and improve maintenance conditions. This study determined that the technology is available to achieve a reliable condenser design. The report also identifies several areas for future research.

Research Organization:
Stone and Webster Engineering Corp., Boston, MA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5283103
Report Number(s):
EPRI-CS-3200; ON: DE84920003
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English