Browsing by Author "Zipfel, Toni"
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- ItemSteam flow distribution in air-cooled condensers(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1996-03) Zipfel, Toni; Kroger, D. G.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this thesis the parameters affecting the steam flow distribution through an air-cooled steam condenser, as found in power generating plants is investigated. The investigated condenser configuration consists of bundles with single rows of tubes. It is required to design the air-cooled condenser in such a way that the flow through each individual finned tube is sufficient to allow the entering steam to condense partially or fully along the full length of the tube. Thereby the accumulation of non-condensible gases is prevented, that may otherwise form so-called dead zones which reduce the thermal efficiency of the condenser. A thorough experimental study was performed to determine the inlet loss coefficients of the finned tubes. These were found to vary as a function of the position of the finned tube, the steam velocity in the header and the geometrical configuration of the inlets themselves. Subsequently the flow pattern on the steam-side of air-cooled condensers, consisting of bundles with single rows of finned tubes, was analyzed. It is shown that by following this approach, a condenser can be designed in which the formation of any dead zones can be avoided. The flow distribution through an air-cooled condenser section was also determined numerically with the aid of a finite difference computer code. The results of this numerical analysis confirm the validity of the proposed design method.