Effects of inlet circulating water through steam condenser on the thermal efficiency of a steam turbine unit

Abstract

Thermal power plants are used to generate power. The plants are designed based on a set of required thermal conditions (such as a good quality of steam, optimal inlet pressure and temperature of steam to the turbine, good conditions of inlet circulating water for cooling condenser, etc.), but in actual operating conditions, inlet conditions are not good as at the designed mode. In real situations, when power plants are installed there are lots of constraints, especially for plants after a long time in operation and with environmental change in conditions. This tends to reduce output power at the same fuel consumption or increase heat rate of thermal power plants. Variations in the heat rate of the plant are always a matter of disputes. On the basis of site measurements and design data collection, performance of the condenser unit can be evaluated. This paper deals with the parameter of inlet circulating water which reduce the efficiency of the condenser and the steam turbine.