Achieving near water cooled power plant performance with air cooled condensers
Abstract Power plants using air cooled condensers suffer a 5 10% plant level efficiency penalty compared to plants with once through cooling systems or wet cooling towers. In this study, a model of a representative air cooled condenser (ACC) system is developed to explore the potential to mitigate this penalty through techniques that reduce the air side thermal resistance, and by raising the air mass flow rate. The ACC unit model is coupled to a representative baseload steam cycle power plant model. It is found that water cooled power plant efficiency levels can be approached by using enhanced ACCs with a combination of significantly increased air flow rates +68% reduced air side thermal resistances 66% and air side pressure losses near conventional levels +24% Emerging heat transfer enhancement technologies are evaluated for the potential to meet these performance objectives. The impact of ambient conditions on ACC operation is also examined, and two hybrid wet/dry cooling system technologies are explored to improve performance at high ambient temperatures. Results from this investigation provide guidance for the adoption and enhancement of air cooled condensers in power plants.