Multistage Pressure Condenser Simplified Reheating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multistage-pressure condensers have complex structures that complicate the reheating process and fail to effectively mix condensate from low-pressure condensers with steam from high-pressure condensers, leading to inefficiencies in plant efficiency and output.

Innovation Solution

A multistage-pressure condenser design featuring a low-pressure condenser, an intermediate-pressure condenser, and a high-pressure condenser, where the perforated plates have perforations on the cooling water inflow side, and a reheating room partitioned by a condensate partition, with a heating-steam flow path that supplies heated steam directly to the reheating room, ensuring effective contact and mixing of steam and condensate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a tray is provided under the perforated plate in a low-pressure condenser, then condensate can be heated using steam from a high-pressure condenser, but the internal structure of the condenser becomes complicated and manufacturing time is lengthened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecondensate temperatureVSAvoidinternal structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the tray component from the condenser structure and replaces it with a simplified arrangement where condensate flows directly over the perforated plate into the hot well. This extraction of the unnecessary tray component reduces structural complexity while maintaining the heating function through direct steam-condensate contact in the simplified hot well configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the condenser into distinct functional zones: a condensation section with the perforated plate for steam condensation, and a simplified hot well section for condensate collection and heating. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function efficiently without the need for complex intermediate components like trays, thereby reducing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Temperature

If a conical obstruction is arranged under the perforated plate to form a liquid film, then condensate can contact the obstruction, but the structure becomes complicated and manufacturing time increases due to additional welding operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecondensate heating efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the conical obstruction component entirely and replaces it with a simplified hot well structure where condensate naturally accumulates and contacts heating steam. This extraction eliminates the need for complex welding operations to install the conical obstruction, significantly reducing manufacturing time while maintaining effective condensate heating through the simplified direct contact mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Temperature

If steam and condensate are not mixed together sufficiently, then the reheating process is ineffective, but the structure remains simple

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecondensate temperatureVSAvoidplant efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a dynamic mixing environment in the hot well where heating steam is introduced and naturally mixes with accumulated condensate through turbulent flow and convection currents. This dynamic interaction ensures sufficient mixing and effective heat transfer without requiring complex mechanical mixing devices, thereby maintaining structural simplicity while achieving high plant efficiency through effective condensate reheating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

The simplified structure enhances the mixing of heated steam and condensate, increasing the temperature of the condensate supplied to feed-water heaters, reducing the steam turbine bleed amount, and improving generator output while shortening manufacturing time.

Implementation Method 1

condense turbine exhaust steam, which has been expanded by a steam turbine, into condensate using cooling water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 2

condense turbine exhaust steam, which has been expanded by a steam turbine, into condensate using cooling water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

heating-steam flow path which supplies heated steam from the third condenser to the reheating room partitioned by the first partition and the second partition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

reheating room for reheating condensate dropping from the perforations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReheating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP2282151B1Multistage pressure condenser
Publication Date: 2018.11.21 KK TOSHIBA
  • EP2282151B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2282151B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2282151B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~5

AI summary

According to one embodiment, there is provided a multistage-pressure condenser, including a first condenser (1), a second condenser (2) and a third condenser (3), which are arranged in increasing order of internal pressure, the first condenser (1) and the second condenser (2) each including a first partition (5) in which perforations (5P) from which condensate obtained by condensing turbine steam by cooling water drops are formed on a cooling water inflow side of the condenser rather than at a central part thereof, and a second partition (6) which partitions a reheating room (7) for reheating condensate dropping from the perforations (5P) in a direction perpendicular to an inflow direction of the cooling water, and a heating-steam flow path (8) which supplies heated steam from the third condenser (3) to the reheating room (7) partitioned by the first partition (5) and the second partition (6).