Keeping condensers clean

The humble condenser is among the biggest contributors to a steam power plant's efficiency. But although a clean condenser can provide great economic benefit, a dirty one can raise plant heat rate, resulting in large losses of generation revenue and/or unnecessarily high fuel bills. Conventiona...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Power 2006-04, Vol.150 (3)
Main Author: Wicker, K.
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
BACTERIA
CALCITE
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CLEANING
COAL
CONDENSER
COOLING SYSTEMS
CORROSION
DEPOSITION
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
FOULING
HEAT TRANSFER
NEVADA
REMOVAL
TUBES
USA
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Summary:The humble condenser is among the biggest contributors to a steam power plant's efficiency. But although a clean condenser can provide great economic benefit, a dirty one can raise plant heat rate, resulting in large losses of generation revenue and/or unnecessarily high fuel bills. Conventional methods for cleaning fouled tubes range form chemicals to scrapers to brushes and hydro-blasters. This article compares the available options and describes how one power station, Omaha Public Power District's 600 MW North Omaha coal-fired power station, cleaned up its act. The makeup and cooling water of all its five units comes from the Missouri River. 6 figs.
ISSN:0032-5929
1936-7791