Evaluation of the efficiency of cavitation-jet deaerator in condensate return systems of remote external consumers of thermal power plants
Thermal power plants (TPPs) operate technological systems for the steam condensate return from remote external consumers. In such systems, it is necessary to protect the metal from corrosion. This will allow ful-filling the regulatory requirements for the concentration of iron compounds in the condensate entering the power plant. Such systems do not use thermal deaerators operated by using heating steam. The aim of the undertaken study is to assess the efficiency of superheated water deaerator use in such conditions, in par-ticular cavitation-jet deaerators. It means determining the effect of a new element of the system – the de-aerator – on the normalized chemical parameters of the returned condensate. A mathematical model of superheated water deaerators is used. The employed model is based on the theory of similarity of heat and mass transfer processes. The methodology for calculating the corrosion rate of return condensate pipelines was used, as well as experimental data on medium pressure TPPs. The efficiency of cavitation-jet deaerators in condensate return systems of external consumers has been estimated. A mathematical description of the system has been developed, which allows determining the required performance of deaerators and the required ratio of water recirculation through them in each mode. Recommendations for effective practical applications of the proposed technical solution have been developed considering the actual conditions at thermal power plants. It is advisable to install a deaerator according to the recirculation scheme through the condensate collection tank. This scheme, compared to a sequential scheme, enables to reduce capital costs and ensure that the deaerator operates in the highest efficiency mode. The choice of the nominal capacity of deaerators should be carried out taking into account the graphs of the change in the flow rate of incoming condensate and the concentration of dissolved oxygen in it during the day. In most operating modes of the system, it is possible to ensure compliance with the regulatory requirements for the mass concentration of corrosion products in the condensate returned to the TPP. The obtained results can be used in the design of new and improving the efficiency of existing TPPs that supply steam to external consumers.