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Publication Number: CEC-500-2011-021
Abstract:
The use of air‐cooled steam condensers, commonly referred to as dry cooling, can substantially reduce the demand on the state’s limited freshwater supplies from thermal power plants. Wind effects on this cooling technology, however, can degrade performance and reduce power generation. This study is aimed at developing an efficient and reliable means of evaluating the performance of an air‐cooled steam condenser under windy conditions, through the use of computational fluid dynamics modeling, a numerical approach to solving fluid flows. A two‐step modeling approach is employed due to computational limitations. The accuracy of the model is verified through a comparison to test data and previous numerical work. The effect of wind on air‐cooled steam condenser performance at El Dorado Power Plant (Nevada) is subsequently investigated and it is found that air‐cooled steam condenser performance degradation under windy conditions is caused by reduced fan performance and hot plume recirculation. Reduced fan performance as a result of inlet flow distortions is the primary contributor to air‐cooled steam condenser performance degradation under windy conditions in this case. Wind screens, solid walkways and increasing fan power are investigated as possible means of improving air‐cooled steam condenser performance under windy conditions. Wind screens are found to be beneficial and an improved screen configuration is recommended for El Dorado Energy facility. Walkways, or skirts, are also found to be beneficial, but increasing the fan power seems to have limited benefits in this case. The model developed in this study has the potential to allow for the evaluation of large air‐cooled steam condenser installations and provides a reliable platform from which further investigations into improving air‐cooled steam condenser performance under windy conditions can be carried out.
Author(s): M.T.F. Owen and D.G. Kroger Commission Division: Technology Systems Division - R&D, PIER (500)
Office/Program: PIER: Public Interest Energy Research
PIER Program Area: Energy-Related Environmental Research
Date Report Completed: January 2011
Date On Line:
05/06/2011
Acrobat PDF File Size: 106 pages,
1,900 kilobytes**
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