Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Improved circulating water flow rates through impeller modifications

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5877028
 [1];  [2]
  1. Ingersoll-Rand Co. (US)
  2. Houston Lighting and Power Co., TX (USA)

Since 1966, problems have occurred to the condenser circulating system at the Robinson plant of the authors' light and power company. These units are located east of San Leon, Texas and take water from Galveston Bay for condenser cooling. The problem incurred are typical of the use of sea water. The initial condenser tubing made of 90-10 copper-nickel suffered velocity corrosion-erosion, high maintenance and subsequent loss of plant availability. Titanium and secure tubing was later used to maintain plant operability. Unfortunately, some heat transfer was lost with these superior corrosion resistant materials. In addition to the tubing problem, air leads and fouling contributed to reducing plant capacity. To improve this situation engineers decided to maximize the circulating water pump performance within is the basis for this paper.

OSTI ID:
5877028
Report Number(s):
CONF-901034--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English