A Systematic Approach Linking Condenser Performance to Heat Rate and CO{sub}2 Emissions

摘要

Power plant condenser cooling systems play a vital role in maintaining generation efficiency and plant heat rate. Deposition in the condenser or cooling tower fill will increase turbine backpressure and require higher steam flow to maintain power. Higher steam flow will require more fuel to be burned, assuming the boiler system has the capability to generate more steam. In some cases, the plant cannot generate at full power with a fouled condenser the result of which is de-rating. The increased fuel requirement increases plant heat rate, which translates directly to fuel cost and emissions. Even though the increase in fuel consumption may be small (< 1%), the environmental and financial impacts may be significant, as emission-trading schemes (cap-and-trade) for greenhouse gasses are directly affected. Condenser and cooling tower performance-monitoring helps to link cooling system performance to heat rate and can be expressed in terms of environmental performance and compliance. Condenser cooling operating variables can be combined with cooling system chemistry performance as well as control data and engineering calculations to help document the impact of cooling system performance on heat rate, fuel consumption and emissions of greenhouse gases. The lowest environmental impact can thus be achieved from existing plant equipment.