Browsing by Author "Waters, Danial Terry"
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- ItemA parametric analysis of various dry, wet, and combined cooling system configurations for thermal power plants(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04) Waters, Danial Terry; Owen, Michael ; Reuter, HCR; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering.ENGLISH SUMMARY: A numerical model, capable of estimating the differences in annual performance of a thermal power plant employing a dry, wet, or combined dry/wet cooling system is developed using heat and mass balances and thermal-flow theory. The models are coupled to a developed steam turbine model for simulation of the effect of cooling system performance on turbine output. The selected systems were based on readily available data and are not representative of optimised / state-of-the-art systems. The model utility is demonstrated for four different locations, each with unique climate types as defined by the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system. The annual performances of each plant are used to estimate and compare the annual energy production, environmental and economic impact differences between the three cooling systems through a parametric investigation of the influence of capital cost, water price and electrical tariff on the comparative economic feasibility of each cooling system. This is used as a basis to recommend the most suitable cooling system type for the range of climate types investigated. For the specific cooling systems and design cases considered, it was found that combined-cooled systems are undeniably an appealing option with the ability to almost match the annual energy production of a wet-cooled system at half the water consumption. This resulted in attractive rates of return across a vast range of water prices, electrical tariffs and capital costs for all climates considered in this study. At extremely high-water prices, dry cooling was the most economical, but only at low electrical tariffs. At low water prices (regardless of electrical tariffs or capital cost ratios), wet cooling was still the most financially attractive, with the region for economical employment being extended in drier and warmer climates. It was clear that when concerned with both cost effectiveness and some form of water conservation, that combined cooling was the most appropriate.