Design and layout characteristics of steam turbine condensers

We present the results of investigations carried out during the development of steam turbine condensing systems comprising a condenser, an air removing device, and condensate and circulation systems. It is found that the tube bundle layout and the characteristics of devices for removing noncondensable gases have an essential effect on the heat transfer intensity and pressure in the condensers. The design of the heat-transfer surface of a condenser operating with constant velocity of steam during its condensation is described, and the procedure for calculating the area and configuration of such heat-transfer surface is outlined. Results from tests of such apparatuses are presented. It is shown that the heat-transfer coefficients in them are a factor of 1.5–3.0 higher than those in the existing condensers at a moderate velocity of cooling medium. A qualitative pattern of a change in the volume filled with noncondensable gases that occurs during a decrease of thermal load or drop of cooling medium temperature is shown taking as an example condensers with steam flowing inside the condenser tubes.