Evaporative Condenser Vacuum System for Thermoelectric Plants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for condensing turbine exhaust steam in thermoelectric plants have high energy consumption, which limits efficiency and increases operational costs, particularly due to the reliance on cooling towers and traditional condensers, making them less suitable for tropical regions and less energy-efficient compared to the proposed system.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum condensation system combining an exhaust steam collector, steam pipes, an evaporative condenser, and air ejectors to efficiently condense steam at low pressure, utilizing the latent heat of evaporation and recirculating water to reduce energy consumption and maintain a compact installation without cooling towers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional hull/tube condenser with cooling tower is used, then steam condensation is achieved, but energy consumption increases by 70% compared to the proposed system
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the phase transition of water from liquid to vapor through evaporation in the evaporative condenser. Water evaporates on the outer surface of tubes, absorbing latent heat from the exhaust steam inside the tubes, causing the steam to condense. This phase transition mechanism enables efficient heat transfer and condensation without requiring cooling towers, reducing energy consumption while maintaining condensation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical cooling tower system with an evaporative condenser that uses natural evaporation and air flow. Instead of mechanically circulating water through a cooling tower, the system uses evaporative cooling where air flow over wet surfaces naturally cools the condenser tubes, eliminating the need for complex mechanical cooling infrastructure and reducing energy consumption.
2Reliability
If cooling tower is used for steam condensation, then condensation process is complete, but device complexity and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the cooling tower component from the traditional condensation system. By using an evaporative condenser that performs condensation directly in a compact unit without requiring separate cooling tower infrastructure, the system reduces device complexity and installation space while maintaining complete condensation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaporative condenser merges the condensation function with the cooling function into a single integrated unit. The condenser tubes, evaporation surfaces, and air flow channels are combined in one compact structure, eliminating the need for separate cooling tower and condenser components, thereby reducing overall system complexity and space requirements.
3Loss of energy
If dry condenser with dry cooling tower is used, then energy consumption is reduced, but physical structure becomes larger and installation becomes difficult in tropical countries
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs evaporative phase transition of water to achieve cooling and condensation. Water evaporates on the tube surfaces, absorbing heat from exhaust steam and condensing it efficiently. This biological/physical process enables compact structure with low energy consumption, overcoming the limitations of dry condensers in tropical climates while maintaining small physical footprint.
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 system achieves low energy consumption, reduced maintenance costs, increased liquid energy generation, and improved heat efficiency, enhancing the profitability of thermoelectric plants while eliminating the need for cooling towers and minimizing water usage.
Implementation Method 1
The evaporative condenser used to condense the vapor and generate vacuum in the required turbine, takes advantage of the latent heat of evaporation of water in the environment
Implementation Method 2
through the air movement over the wet tube bundles promote the effect of 'wet bulb temperature' cooling the tubular capacitor
Implementation Method 3
vacuum application (low pressure), creating one more effect on the rotors of the turbines
Data Source
AI summary
A VACUUM CONDENSATION SYSTEM BY USING EVAPORATIVE CONDENSER AND AIR REMOVAL SYSTEM COUPLED TO CONDENSING TURBINES IN THERMOELECTRIC PLANTS, made of stainless steel, metal alloys or other materials. This condensing system includes an evaporative condenser, air removal ejector system and condensers, turbine exhaust steam collector system with pipelines, collection and return systems of the condensate to the boiler. The exhaust steam generated in the turbine is driven by steam collector system, condensed in the evaporative condenser, and the air is removed from the system by the air removal (ejectors) and the condensed air is returned to the boiler by the condensed system.