POWER June 2012 - 74

CONDENSERS
Improve Condenser Performance
Through Better Instrumentation
Most power plants use some form of condenser performance-monitoring
protocol. Some of those protocols are deficient because the proper instrumentation
is not installed to collect the necessary data. Three case
studies illustrate how collecting good condenser performance data
enabled plant staff to troubleshoot problems and make good plant
performance improvement decisions.
By Kevin Boudreaux, Nalco Co.
V
isit a hospital, and the doctors seem
to have all the latest diagnostic instrumentation
and sensors to collect
the data necessary to make an intelligent
assessment of health problems. Visit the
typical power plant, and you'll likely find
it does not have the necessary instrumentation
to monitor and collect the data needed
to assess equipment health or diagnose
nagging problems.
For example, many plants have prepared
a condenser performance-monitoring
protocol, yet the instrumentation is not
available to make a proper diagnosis of
condenser performance problems. Use of
the correct instrumentation allows a quick,
accurate, and economic resolution to condenser
problems that are tedious to solve
because the failures are often invisible to
the plant staff.
The three case studies that follow were
selected to demonstrate the importance of
having the proper instrumentation in the
condenser system. In each case, plant staff
had in the past taken great pains to install
the necessary instrumentation to evaluate
equipment health and kept historical records
in the plant's data historian to assess
ongoing performance trends. In each case
study, the availability of good data was
critical to successfully troubleshooting the
problem(s) and in selecting the most economic
solution.
Case Study 1: Air Removal
The first case study pertains to an 850-MWclass
coal-fired unit that is part of a fourunit
plant located in the Midwest. The unit,
which entered service in the late 1970s,
operates at 3,500 psi, and the steam condenser
is a single-pass, two-compartment,
low-pressure (LP)/high-pressure (HP) arrangement
(the LP cooling water outlet is
the HP cooling water inlet).
74
1. Sucking air. Air in-leakage was slightly improved after the condenser was cleaned and
minor repairs were completed during a planned outage in late May 2011. Source: Nalco Co.
Actual
120
100
80
60
40
20
Expected
2. Superficial solution. The condenser cleanliness factor showed little improvement after
a mechanical cleaning in late May 2011. Source: Nalco Co.
Current
100
80
60
40
20
Design
www.powermag.com
POWER | June 2012
Cleanliness factor (%)
Air in-leakage (scfm)
12/23/11
11/3/11
9/14/11
7/26/11
6/6/11
4/17/11
2/26/11
1/7/11
11/18/10
7/26/11
6/6/11
4/17/11
2/26/11
1/7/11
11/18/10
9/14/11
11/3/11
12/23/11

http://www.powermag.com

POWER June 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of POWER June 2012

Contents
POWER June 2012 - Cover1
POWER June 2012 - Cover2
POWER June 2012 - Contents
POWER June 2012 - 2
POWER June 2012 - 3
POWER June 2012 - 4
POWER June 2012 - 5
POWER June 2012 - 6
POWER June 2012 - 7
POWER June 2012 - 8
POWER June 2012 - 9
POWER June 2012 - 10
POWER June 2012 - 11
POWER June 2012 - 12
POWER June 2012 - 13
POWER June 2012 - 14
POWER June 2012 - 15
POWER June 2012 - 16
POWER June 2012 - 17
POWER June 2012 - 18
POWER June 2012 - 19
POWER June 2012 - 20
POWER June 2012 - 21
POWER June 2012 - 22
POWER June 2012 - 23
POWER June 2012 - 24
POWER June 2012 - 25
POWER June 2012 - 26
POWER June 2012 - 27
POWER June 2012 - 28
POWER June 2012 - 29
POWER June 2012 - 30
POWER June 2012 - 31
POWER June 2012 - 32
POWER June 2012 - 33
POWER June 2012 - 34
POWER June 2012 - 35
POWER June 2012 - 36
POWER June 2012 - 37
POWER June 2012 - 38
POWER June 2012 - 39
POWER June 2012 - 40
POWER June 2012 - 41
POWER June 2012 - 42
POWER June 2012 - 43
POWER June 2012 - 44
POWER June 2012 - 45
POWER June 2012 - 46
POWER June 2012 - 47
POWER June 2012 - 48
POWER June 2012 - 49
POWER June 2012 - 50
POWER June 2012 - 51
POWER June 2012 - 52
POWER June 2012 - 53
POWER June 2012 - 54
POWER June 2012 - 55
POWER June 2012 - 56
POWER June 2012 - 57
POWER June 2012 - 58
POWER June 2012 - 59
POWER June 2012 - 60
POWER June 2012 - 61
POWER June 2012 - 62
POWER June 2012 - 63
POWER June 2012 - 64
POWER June 2012 - 65
POWER June 2012 - 66
POWER June 2012 - 67
POWER June 2012 - 68
POWER June 2012 - 69
POWER June 2012 - 70
POWER June 2012 - 71
POWER June 2012 - 72
POWER June 2012 - 73
POWER June 2012 - 74
POWER June 2012 - 75
POWER June 2012 - 76
POWER June 2012 - 77
POWER June 2012 - 78
POWER June 2012 - 79
POWER June 2012 - 80
POWER June 2012 - 81
POWER June 2012 - 82
POWER June 2012 - 83
POWER June 2012 - 84
POWER June 2012 - 85
POWER June 2012 - 86
POWER June 2012 - 87
POWER June 2012 - 88
POWER June 2012 - Cover3
POWER June 2012 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/re-tech-supp-to-power-september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-and-re-tech-supp-september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/Power-October-2022-140th-Anniversary-Supp
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/Power-October-2022-and-Anniversary-Supp
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-and-re-tech-supp-september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/Power-July-2022-Intl
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2022-intl
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2022-intl
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/Power-April-2022-Intl
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-top-plants-supp-december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2010
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com