An air-cooled condenser is a type of condensing equipment that employs ambient air as a cooling medium to directly condense the turbine exhaust steam into water by single row tube. The air-cooled system is an increasingly extensive application worldwide due to its excellent water-saving performance compared with other types of condensing/cooling systems.
An air-cooled condenser (ACC) is a direct dry cooling system where steam is condensed inside air-cooled finned tubes. The cool ambient airflow outside the finned tubes is what removes heat and defines the functionality of an ACC. In thermal power plants (T), the steam from the turbine exhaust flows into the ACC where condensation occurs. Then the condensate returns to the boiler (B) in a closed loop. Since the steam coming from the turbine is at a low pressure, the ACC works at a pressure close to a vacuum, and non-condensable gases (G) are removed continuously by an air evacuation unit.
Components of direct air cooling system
- Air condenser system
Elliptical finned tube bundles, steam distribution tubes, upper and lower tube bundle headers, and steel structures supporting tube bundles
- Air supply system
Speed regulating fan, electric motor, gearbox, air duct, protective net
- Exhaust pipeline system
The pipeline between the exhaust device of the steam turbine and the steam distribution pipeline of each air-cooled condenser, as well as the expansion compensator, isolation valve, safety valve, rupture valve, and drainage pipeline in the middle of the pipeline
- Condensed water collection system
The water collection pipe, condensate water tank, and condensate water pump of the air-cooled condenser
- Air extraction system
Vacuum pump or other vacuum extractor and corresponding pipelines
- Air condenser cleaning system
High-pressure water pump and cleaning pipeline, etc