Induced draft air-cooled condenser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air-cooled condensers require large quantities of steel for support structures, increasing costs and requiring significant time and labor for installation, as well as complicating maintenance access.
Innovation Solution
The design features a V-shaped heat exchanger arrangement with parallel top steam manifolds and a fan deck coupled to these manifolds, eliminating the need for an upper frame structure and allowing for simplified support structures, reducing material usage and installation time while facilitating maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional air-cooled condensers use separate upper frame structures to support fan decks and tube bundles, then structural stability is improved, but the quantity of steel required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the upper frame structure with the main steam manifold by integrating the support function into the manifold itself. The manifold is designed to structurally support the fan deck and tube bundles, eliminating the need for a separate upper frame structure. This combination reduces steel quantity while maintaining structural stability through the manifold's inherent load-bearing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The main steam manifold is given multiple functions: it serves as both the steam distribution component and the structural support element for the fan deck and tube bundles. This multi-functionality allows the same component to fulfill both process and structural roles, reducing overall material requirements while maintaining stability.
2Reliability
If complex support structures with multiple frame elements are used, then component support is improved, but installation time and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the support function into the main steam manifold, the number of separate support structures is reduced. This simplification decreases the number of assembly steps and connections required during installation, thereby reducing installation time and labor while maintaining adequate component support through the integrated design.
3Strength
If additional support structures and frame elements are provided, then structural integrity is improved, but maintenance accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of support functionality into the main steam manifold reduces the number of separate support structures and frame elements. This simplification creates more open space and fewer obstructions, improving maintenance personnel's ability to access components for inspection and repair while the manifold itself maintains structural integrity through its load-bearing design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces the amount of steel needed for support structures, streamlines the installation process, and enhances maintenance accessibility by creating a self-supporting structure that elevates main steam manifolds and fans without additional support, thereby lowering overall costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
These air-cooled condensers make use of heat exchangers which generally comprise a number of finned tubes arranged in parallel forming a tube bundle. The tubes of the tube bundle are in contact with the ambient air and when steam passes through the tubes, the steam gives off heat and is eventually condensed.
Implementation Method 2
The tubes of the tube bundle are in contact with the ambient air and when steam passes through the tubes, the steam gives off heat and is eventually condensed. When condensate is formed in the tubes, it can flow by gravitation to the lower end section of the tubes where condensate is collected.
Implementation Method 3
Induced draft fans located either below or above the two tube bundles generate, respectively, a forced air draft or an induced air draft through the heat exchangers.
Data Source
AI summary
Air-cooled condensers and air-cooled condenser streets for condensing exhaust steam from a turbine are disclosed. An example air-cooled condenser street includes one or more rows of V-shaped heat exchangers. Each row includes a main steam manifold to introduce exhaust steam into tube bundles that are placed in an inclined position such that condensate formed in the bundles flows back by gravitation to the main steam manifold. Top steam manifolds are connected to the upper end of respectively each of the tube bundles of the air-cooled condenser street. The series of parallel top steam manifolds are forming a support assembly for supporting one or more fan decks. The fan decks support a plurality of fans to induce an air draft in the V-shaped heat exchangers.