CONDENSER PERFORMANCE

TEST
I.Introduction

Why Monitoring of condenser performance is important? Steam after

doing its useful work in the turbine, is dumped into the condenser for
condensation and further recycling. The amount of work that can be
extracted from the steam in the turbine will be more if the condenser
performance is better.
II.Objective

• This test procedure shall determine the condenser performance with

regard to one or more performance indices as follows.
1. Absolute Back Pressure Deviation from Expected Valve.
2. Effect on Heat Rate deviation and its Financial Implications
3. Terminal Temperature Difference (TTD).
4. Sub-cooling of Air-steam Mixture and Condensate.
5. Effectiveness of Cleaning the Tubes.
6. Circulating Water Temperature Rise.
7. Flow of Air-steam Mixture.
8. Effects of Physical Changes in the Condenser like New Tubes, etc.
9. Circulating Water Velocity in Tubes.
III. Plant Specific Data and Characteristics

1.Condenser Design Data

III. Plant Specific Data and Characteristics

2. Heat Load Vs. Condenser Back Pressure for Different C.W Inlet
temperature
III. Plant Specific Data and Characteristics

3.Generator Loss curve

4.VWO Heat Balance
IV. Test Procedure

1. Instrumentation (EXAMPLE ONLY)

IV. Test Procedure

2. Test Set Up
• 2.1Ensure that condenser water box is full of water by operating water box vents.
• 2.2Unit should be in operation at normal full load in steady state condition.
• 2.3Effort should be made to conduct the test runs close to normal operating parameters
• 2.4Ensure that unit is operating under specified cycle condition, for example, cascading
of H.P heater drip to deaerator
• 2.5No make up should be taken during test.
• 2.6High energy drains passing if any to be attended/recorded.
• 2.7As far as possible, the condenser hot well level should be kept constant.
• 2.8The condenser C.W. outlet valves should be set at 100% open or as wide as possible
maintaining a full water box.
• 2.9Make notes of any abnormal conditions pertaining to the test.
IV. Test Procedure

3. Duration of Test and frequency of readings

3.1Form a data group in the DAS for Data collection during the test
IV. Test Procedure

3. Duration of Test and frequency of readings

3.2. Each test must be conducted for about 30 min for the purposes
of data collection.
IV. Test Procedure

3. Duration of Test and frequency of readings

3.3. The frequency of data collection in DAS should be 1 min or
minimum possible to achieve, depending upon the data collection rate
of DAS.
IV. Test Procedure

Determination of Condenser Duty

Condenser Duty = (Heat Added MS + Heat added by SH Attemperation
+ Heat Added CRH + Heat added by BFP + Heat added by RH
Attemperation) - 860 (Pgen + Pgen Losses + Heat Loss rad.)
IV. Test Procedure

CW Flow Measurement
CW Flow measurement can be determined:
1. By pitot survey in the CW outlet / inlet duct
2. By Calculation of Condenser Heat Load and thereby CW flow
IV. Test Procedure

Water Velocity in Condenser Tube

IV. Test Procedure

Determination actual Log Mean Temperature Difference (LMTD):

IV. Test Procedure

Determination of Expected LMTD :