Abstract

One of the salient shortcomings of the most present computational methods for predicting the steam flow in the power plant condensers is the limitation of two-dimensional or quasi three-dimensional flows. However, the flow in the untubed region of condensers (from turbine exhaust to the outer circumference of the tube bundle) is markedly three-dimensional, and the distribution of steam around the tube bundle is made even more three-dimensional because of the temperature difference caused by the cooling water. The steam flow in the axial direction in the tube bundle region, is constrained by supporting plates. However, the three-dimensional modeling is necessary and important in providing an accurate prediction of the flow, especially in the regions of air suction. A practical approach is thus needed to establish an algorithm, in which included are the three-dimensional effects in a real and practical manner, in both the untubed and tubular regions in the condensers of the power plant. 

A full description of the three-dimensional procedure for a numerical computation of the steam flow in power plant condensers is presented in this paper. The purpose of the present study is to develop an algorithm that can be used to predict the nature of the three-dimensional fluid flow and heat trańsfer in large condensers of power plants. In order to demonstrate the applicability and predictive capability of the proposed method, both the three-dimensional and two-dimensional procedures are applied tó simulate velocity, pressure and fraction of air mass experimental condensers. Numerical results obtained are compared with the experimental results of these condensers, as they appear in the scientific relevant literature on numerical simulation.