United States. Water Programs Office
Published: 1969
Total Pages: 128
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In this report, various types of heat transfer equipment which would be applicable to the task of dissipating condenser discharge heat from large power plants are identified. Their performance is analyzed, performance prediction methods are presented, and the capital and operating costs are given. The report begins with a brief review of the basic thermodynamics of the Rankine power cycle in order to provide some basis for understanding the effect of the heat rejection process on the total cycle. Information including sizing procedures, capital and operating costs, duty maintenance requirements, and possible secondary pollution considerations are presented for candidate systems such as once-through cooling (to serve as a base), cooling ponds, spray ponds, wet cooling towers, dry cooling towers, evaporation condensers, and air-cooled condensers. Operational considerations are discussed including the theory of operation at the design point, off-design performance, running procedures, and any unusual characteristics affecting the interface between the cooling system and the power plant. Finally, the material describing each of the individual units is integrated and procedures and criteria are developed for the selection of an optimum unit given a particular geographic location, capacity requirements, and economic constraints.
