Development of condenser mathematical model for research and development of ways to improve its efficiency

The condensing unit is one of the most important elements of the steam turbine of a combined heat and power plant. Defects in elements of the condensing unit lead to disturbances in the steam turbine operation, its failures and breakdowns, as well as efficiency losses of the plant. Therefore, the operating personnel need to know the cause of the malfunction and to correct it immediately. There are no diagnostic models of condensers in the Republic of Kazakhstan at the moment. In this regard, a mathematical model of a condenser based on the methodology of Kaluga Turbine Plant (KTP) has been developed. The mathematical model makes it possible to change the input parameters, plot dependency diagrams, and calculate the plant efficiency indicators. The mathematical model of the condenser can be used to research ways for the improvement of the condensing unit efficiency, for diagnostic purposes of the equipment condition, for the energy audit conduction of the plant, and in the training when performing virtual laboratory research. Using static data processing by linear regression method we obtain that the KTP methodology of condenser calculation is fair at cooling water temperature from 20 °C to 24 °C, but at cooling water temperature from 20 °C to 28 °C, the methodology of JSC "All-Russia Thermal Engineering Institute" (JSC "VTI") is used. One of the ways to increase the condenser efficiency has been proposed. It is the heat transfer augmentation with riffling annular grooves on tubes. This method increases the heat transfer coefficient by 2%, reduces the water subcooling of the heating steam by 0.9 °C, and decreases the cooling area by 2%. © 2020 Institut za Istrazivanja. All rights reserved.