Steam Condenser is device in which steam is condensed to water at less pressure than atmosphere.
Condensation is done by removing heat from exhaust steam using cooling media [Cooling water, Brine, Air etc].
Main difference between Condenser and heat exchanger is that, Heat exchanger is exchange heat in way where one stream is heating and another is cooling. These are beneficial to both streams.
while in condenser or heater only one stream is meaningfully cooled or heated. Exchanging media is economical loss.
Economical loss means Cooling water gets heated and it re cooled by Cooling water fans, Blower, pumps.
Heating is done through steam or other heating media, this heating media cools while heating another stream, So this heating process needs to be re heated again.
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Function of Steam Condensers
Advantages of Steam condensate
- Condensate is already heated so it reduces energy or fuel consumption for reheating.
- High ratio of pressure provides larger enthalpy drop
- Work done by per kg of steam increases and specific steam consumption increases.
- No feed water treatment is available & reduces cost of the plant.
- Steam condensate is already have temperature . When steam condensate is used preheating energy will be prevented.
- Formation of deposit surface can be prevented by reuse of condensate. Outside water contains impurities and it leads to scaling in equipment like boilers, heat exchangers, Jackets of vessels, Lines etc.
- Condenser
- Condensate pump
- Cooling water or another cooling media supply.
- Makeup water supply
- Boiler feed pump.
- Instrument cluster for DCS controlling and monitoring.
Schematic Diagram
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Difference between Jet Condensers vs Surface Condenser
- Jet condensers are used for small capacity and DM water is available in sufficient.
- Jet Condensers have direct flow sprinkled over steam. This is reason this condensers called Jet Condensers.
- Equipment is simple and requires less area of inspection.
- Low maintenance cost.
- It requires less cooling water flow due to effective mixing
- Not effective for huge capacity plant.
- More Air leakages
- Larger air pump requires
- Higher vacuum drop