International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882

Vo lu me 3, Issue 8, November 2014

Study of Air Cooled Steam Condenser Optimized Location in

Plant through CFD Analysis
Abhishek Malviya 1 , Rohit Rajvaidya 2
1
2

(Department of Mechanical Engineering, Barkatullah Un iversity, Bhopal

(Depart ment of Mechanical Eng ineering, Barkatullah Un iversity, Bhopal)

ABSTRACT
In this paper we have consider a general layout of
captive thermal power plant in which the location of Air
cooled steam condenser is not shown rest all the
equipments are modeled. After that all the modeled
equipments has provided with their corresponding skin
temperature as noticed form various thermal power
plants. Then normal air (27C & 9 m/s) flows from all
the directions one by one and results plotted against the
Plot plan of power plant by CFD analysis software.
Combining all the results of temperature are plotted
against various directions we will get the zone where the
Air cooled steam condenser can be placed. The
optimizes location of air cooled condenser shall be
outside the zone of localized affect on air ambient
temperature due to the skin temperatures of nearby
equipment placed in the power plant. Air cooled
condenser shall be located in such a way that most of
time of the year direction of wind shall be in cross flow
through the power plant. With increase in 1 degree
temperature of air ambient temperature there will be 5%
decrease in efficiency of Air cooled condenser. Hence it
becomes necessary to consider the optimized location to
minimize the impact of skin temperature of nearby
equipment.
Keywords Ambient temperature, Optimized, Power,
Temperature, Wind.

1. INTRODUCTION
Air cooled steam condenser employed dry cooling
technology to reject heat from modern power plant. The
overall efficiency of a power plant is highly depend on
the performance of the Air cooled steam condenser and
performance of ACCs is depend upon ambient air
temperature, fan performance and wind. In India now-adays large numbers of higher MW ACCs plant are
under installation it becomes necessary to evaluate the
performance of ACCs under windy condition.

Therefore, Air cooled steam condenser must be designed

to give the ever-increasing demands of high
performance, higher capacities along with the
considerations of Low cost and weight necessitate a
constant design development of every part of Air cooled
steam condenser.
The location and wind direction for Air cooled Steam
condenser in thermal power plant plays a very vital role
in their performance as earlier said its efficiency is
inversely proportional to the ambient temperatures
As the air passes from various heated equipment like
Boiler, Air Pre-heater, Economizer, Electrostatic
Precipitator (ESP) etc. so the ambient air when comes
in-to the contact of these equipments receive the heat in
the form of convection and gets heated locally and this is
a cause of increasing the ambient temperature. We
cannot avoid the local heating of air because it is the
natural phenomenon and the insulation over that
equipment is also limited to certain limitations.
So it is very necessary that the Air Cooled steam
condenser shall be located in the region where the
localized heating is minimum or we can say that the
location of Air Cooled steam condenser shall be
optimized to increase the performance against the windy
condition.
To overcome those problems of localized heating and
windy condition this report has certain CFD analysis on
the basis of that we can able to generate the Zone data
where the windy condition and localized heating of
ambient air is minimized.

2. CFD MODEL AND ANALYSIS

To overcome those problems of localized heating and
windy condition this report has certain CFD analysis on
the basis of that we can able to generate the Zone data
where the windy condition and localized heating of
ambient air is minimized. The whole analysis is divided
into Model generation as per fig 1, Model mesh
generation as per fig 2, CFD analysis and result. All
relevant data for analysis is collected from site and

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International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882
Vo lu me 3, Issue 8, November 2014

tabulated in Table.1 Analysis is carried from Cross Flow

along the power plant, for Boundary condition the air
speed is considered as 9 m/s.
The analysis is cross flow of fluid across the power plant
with 9 m/s velocity at 300 K temperature. Temperature
Profile is created along the two lines (LINE 1 & LINE2)
this profile will show the variations of physical
parameters along the distance in plant as shown in fig 3
In LINE 1 & LINE 2 observations the X & Y coordinate
spell the location in plants but the Z coordinate shows
the elevation and in all the cases it is 10 m, the reason
behind this is in Air Cooled Steam Condenser the air
inlet is most of the time is form 10 m height. The LINE
1 & LINE 2 are mainly located in the region where the
Air Cooled steam condenser normally located.
2.1 Following Observations for Line 1:
a) If we look at Fig 4 then we find that the profiles give
steep rise at the distance of 20m in Y direction this
indicates the sudden pressure drop due to dense
equipments parts.
b) The temperature after Y (0) is suddenly increase to
its maximum valve and reaches to 316 K due to
direct contact of air with power plants equipments.
c) At exit the temperature is 308 K at -75 m hence to
dilute the temperature effect more space is
required.
d) Velocity at inlet & outlet is near about same but the
pressure difference is more & it is fluctuated in
between + 15 (Y) to -15 (Y)
2.2 Following Observations for Line 2:
a) In fig 5 the temperature rises continuously but the
varying range is very small between 300 K to
300.6 K. This is because the LINE 2 lies in open
space with no restriction of power plant
equipments.
b) velocity difference between inlet & outlet is small
only 1 m/s of difference is noticed, but it is

c)

For optimised location we can only take the worst

condition form all the generated parameters of fluid flow
on the basis of that we can generate the graphical
representation all the results and shown in fig 7

3. FIGURES AND TABLES

Fig. 1 3D Model Generation for power plant

Fig: 2 Meshing of 3D Model

maximum at -10 (Y)due to pressure drop at

that region.
Low pressure region is created at -10 Y which
will increase the localized heating of air flow.

Fig 6 shows the temperature pattern at XY Plane taking

the Z coordinate as 10 m above ground level. Hence the
above profile shows the behavior of air flow at different
locations & levels.
After combining all the data observed by CFD analysis
we can able to summaries the data & final solution of
optimized location can be finally located.

Fig: 3 Models for Cross Flow Across

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International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882
Vo lu me 3, Issue 8, November 2014

Fig: - 4 Cross flow graph for Temperature v/s Distance

for line 1

Fig 7: Graphical representation final location

Table: 1
S. No.
1
2
3
4
5
6

Equipment
Boiler
Economizer
Air Pre-heater
ESP
Chimney
TG Building

Skin Temperatures
353 K
343 K
343 K
343 K
323 K
300 K

4. CONCLUSION

Fig: - 5 Cross flow graph for Temperature v/s Distance

for line 1

On the basis of the investigations of heat transfer & fluid

flow characteristics in the power plant layout, the
optimized location can be anywhere outside of zone
indicated by coordinate system in figure 7 as mentioned
Air cooled condenser performance is largely depend up
on the air ambient temperature for constant heat load
and back pressure. If we locate the Air cooled condenser
inside the marked zone then with increase in every 1
degree Centigrade of temperature the performance or
efficiency of system is reduces by 5%. Hence System
shall be located in front of TG building with cross flow
of air. The overall sizing can be reduced by placing the
Air cooled steam condenser at the optimised location as
indicate figure 7 as ambient air temperature is a key
parameter will sizing the Air cooled condenser.

REFERENCE
Fig: 6 Cross Flow Temperature Pattern on XY Plane at
10M level (Z)

[1] Performance trends of an air cooled steam condense

under windy condition, by Mr. J.A. Van Rooyen and Mr.
D.G. Krger University of Stellenbosch for California
energy commission, May 2008.

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International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET), ISSN 2278 0882
Vo lu me 3, Issue 8, November 2014

[2]Wind effects on air-cooled condenser performance by

Mr. Leila Borghei, R&D Department Monenco Iran
Consultant Engineers and Mr. Ramin Haghighi
Khoshkhoo Mechanical engineering department, Power
and Water University of technology (PWUT) Tehran,
Iran.
[3] Improved Performance of an Air Cooled Condenser
(ACC) Using SPX Wind Guide Technology at CoalBased Thermoelectric Power Plants by Mr. Ken
Mortensen, SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc. 7401 West
129th Street Overland Park, KS 66213, Date: 3/31/11.
[4] Design and Specification of Air-Cooled Steam
Condensers by Mr. M.W. Larinoff, Mr. W.E. Moles and
Mr. R. Reichhelm of Hudson Products Corporation
Houston, Texas in May 22, 1978.

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