Factorial Analysis of Surface Condenser for Thermal Power Plant

Abstract

The thermal power plants, used to generate power, are designed based on required conditions (like a good quality of steam, pressure and temperature of steam etc.). This paper deals with the factors which reduced the efficiency of the condenser and power plant. In practical situations, actually inlet conditions are not as per the designed conditions, when power plants are installed. There are lots of constraints which conform with the second law of thermodynamics. This tends to reduce or increase output power and heat rate of thermal power plants. Due to these conditions, the designed power and heat rate are never achieved. Variations in the power outputs from plant are always a matter of disputes. So the parameters for power and heat rate are generated for different conditions of condenser pressure, flow rate of water through the condenser, temperature difference. On the basis of site measurement and design data collection performance of the condenser unit were evaluated. These evaluations indicate that if operating conditions vary, then power output and heat rate also vary.

Keywords: Flow Rate, Condenser, Power Output, Vacuum, Energy Efficiency