Technical Data Sheet: Water Systems

Air Cooled Condensation Plants

Strict restrictions for the use of cooling water and its limited availability at many locations result in a growing demand for dry air cooler systems. Air cooled condensers manufactured by Hamworthy Serck Como are especially suitable for the liquefaction of turbine exhaust steam at vacuum conditions. Exhaust steam is passed through a high number of finned tubes. Hamworthy Serck Como employs finned tubes that consist of a steel base tube and aluminium fins. One of the remarkable features of aluminium fins is their high heat conductibility and their high efficiency, and knurled tubes guarantee the necessary bondage between base tube and fins. In addition to supplying air cooled condensers we offer to our customers: engineering all necessary auxiliary and safety equipment switchgear cabinet for the control of the plant assembly and commissioning if desired we can include pipework, exhaust steam pipe, electric cabling and heat insulation At low atmospheric temperatures and reduced heat load there is a potential risk of freezing inside the finned tubes. By designing a counter-current flow of steam and condensate inside each tube bundle, Hamworthy Serck Como prevents the formation of ice in the condenser. The self supporting fin tube stacks manufactured at our works are mounted as A-type on a steel support structure, below the tubes horizontal forced draught fans are located. A frequency control of the fan motor speed facilitates the adjustment of the fan speed to different heat loads and different ambient temperatures, which results in a reduction of the running costs. The use of low-noise fans enables Hamworthy Serck Como to install air cooled condensers near residential areas.

Air cooled condenser in the set-up period

Air Cooled Condensation Plants

Water Systems

Flow diagram of a complete air cooled condenstion plant

KEY Steam Condensate Inert gases/steam Control circuit

Description of process One or two steam ejectors draw the inert gases off the condenser that would otherwise accumulate during vacuum operation. If necessary we can provide an additional hogging ejector. The motive steam necessary for operating the ejectors is condensed in the ejector condenser and fed back into the process. Cooling medium for the ejector condenser is the main condensate. To enable constant cooling and a cavitation-free operation of the pumps at low load, the level in the condensate tank is maintained constant by switching a three-way valve. Alternatively we supply water ring pumps as air extraction unit. Two redundant condensate pumps with an automatic switch guarantee a high availability of the whole plant. The condensate pumps facilitated by Hamworthy Serck Como enable a space-saving and economical arrangement due to their low NPSH-value.

Approval Certificate No. 202595

a subsidiary of Hamworthy plc

All details copyright Hamworthy plc.

ref: HWS0064 1007

Hamworthy Serck Como GmbH Pankower Str. 16 - 18 D-21502 Geesthacht, Germany tel: ++49 4152-805-0 fax: ++49 4152-805-105 e-mail: geesthacht@hamworthy.com website: www.hamworthy.com

The manufacturers reserve the right to alter the specification and data to incorporate improvements in design. Certified drawings will be issued on request.