skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: User's manual for the BNW-I optimization code for dry-cooled power plants. Volume I

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7080635· OSTI ID:7080635

This User's Manual provides information on the use and operation of three versions of BNW-I, a computer code developed by Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) as a part of its activities under the ERDA Dry Cooling Tower Program. These three versions of BNW-I were used as reported elsewhere to obtain comparative incremental costs of electrical power production by two advanced concepts (one using plastic heat exchangers and one using ammonia as an intermediate heat transfer fluid) and a state-of-the-art system. The computer program offers a comprehensive method of evaluating the cost savings potential of dry-cooled heat rejection systems and components for power plants. This method goes beyond simple ''figure-of-merit'' optimization of the cooling tower and includes such items as the cost of replacement capacity needed on an annual basis and the optimum split between plant scale-up and replacement capacity, as well as the purchase and operating costs of all major heat rejection components. Hence, the BNW-I code is a useful tool for determining potential cost savings of new heat transfer surfaces, new piping or other components as part of an optimized system for a dry-cooled power plant.

Research Organization:
Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-06-1830
OSTI ID:
7080635
Report Number(s):
BNWL-2180(Vol.1)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English