Steam Turbine Condensing Loop for High Outdoor Temperatures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Steam turbine power generation systems using air-cooling condensers are affected by outdoor temperature, leading to increased condensation pressure and reduced performance when outdoor air temperature rises, as the condensation pressure of the condenser increases, affecting the pressure difference between the turbine's front and rear ends.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a regenerator and an ejector into the system to heat the heat-transfer fluid when outdoor air temperature is high, allowing it to be reused in the steam condenser and air cooling condenser, thereby maintaining efficiency and preventing increased condensation pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an air-cooling condenser is used to cool high-temperature steam, then the system can operate without water cooling infrastructure, but the condensation pressure increases when outdoor air temperature rises, reducing turbine performance
Solution Approach 1:
A heat transfer fluid is introduced as an intermediary between the steam and outdoor air. The steam condenses by transferring heat to the heat transfer fluid in the steam condenser, and the heat transfer fluid then transfers heat to outdoor air in the air-cooling condenser. This intermediary allows the system to maintain stable condensation pressure independent of outdoor air temperature variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the thermal parameters of the heat transfer fluid dynamically. When outdoor air temperature is high, the heat transfer fluid absorbs more heat from the steam, maintaining constant condensation temperature and pressure. This parameter adjustment decouples the turbine operating conditions from environmental temperature variations.
2Ease of operation
If outdoor air temperature rises, then the air-cooling condenser can operate with available ambient conditions, but the condensation pressure of the condenser increases, reducing the pressure difference between turbine front and rear ends
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer fluid serves as a mediator that absorbs heat from the steam at a controlled rate. Even when outdoor air temperature rises, the heat transfer fluid maintains the condensation process at stable pressure by adjusting its heat absorption capacity, preventing direct transmission of temperature variations to the condensation pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system anticipates temperature variations by using the heat transfer fluid as a thermal buffer. The fluid absorbs and stores thermal energy, cushioning against sudden increases in outdoor air temperature and preventing immediate rises in condensation pressure that would otherwise occur in direct air-cooling systems.
3Device complexity
If high-temperature steam is directly cooled by outdoor air, then the system structure is simplified, but the turbine performance is lowered when outdoor air temperature is high due to increased condensation pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer fluid is introduced as an intermediary substance that circulates between the steam condenser and air-cooling condenser. This adds a moderate level of system complexity but enables stable condensation pressure control, thereby maintaining turbine power output even when outdoor air temperature is high.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes parameter changes in the heat transfer fluid's thermal state to decouple turbine performance from outdoor temperature. By controlling the heat transfer fluid's temperature and pressure parameters, the system maintains optimal condensation conditions regardless of ambient temperature variations.
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 minimizes the impact of outdoor air temperature on the steam turbine power generation system, ensuring consistent performance by maintaining efficient heat exchange and preventing increased back pressure on the turbine, thus enhancing overall system efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a steam condenser configured to perform heat-exchanging high-temperature steam exhausted from a turbine with a heat-transfer fluid and to condense the steam
Implementation Method 2
an air cooling condenser configured to perform heat-exchanging the heat-transfer fluid generated from the steam condenser with outdoor air and to condense the heat-transfer fluid
Implementation Method 3
a regenerator configured to heat the heat-transfer fluid discharged after being condensed by the air cooling condenser using a heat source when temperature of the outdoor air is equal to or higher than a predetermined set temperature
Data Source
AI summary
In a steam turbine power generation system according to the present invention, a regenerator and an ejector are selectively operated according to outdoor air temperature so that the effects of the outdoor air temperature can be minimized and thus an increase in back pressure of a turbine is prevented and thus the operating efficiency of the steam turbine power generation system can be guaranteed. In addition, when the outdoor air temperature is lower than a set temperature, only a steam condenser and an air cooling condenser are used, and when the outdoor air temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature, the regenerator and the ejector are operated so that the condensation efficiency of the air cooling condenser is improved and thus the cooling efficiency of the steam turbine power generation system can be maximized.