Automatic On Line Mechanical Cleaning System for Condensers and Heat Exchangers

Abstract

The online cleaning system for condensers and heat exchangers provides a positive means for automatic cleaning on a continuous basis while plant remains "on stream" and in its full operating condition. Condenser tube fouling contributes up to 50% of the total condenser tube heat transfer resistance. The penalties and costs associated with the operation of a fouled condenser can include increased turbine heat rate and back pressure, increased operating and maintenance costs, reduced performance and power generation output, increased outages, and loss of plant availability. Foulants such as lime, bacterial matrix, algae, silt, scale, corrosion products and mud, reduce efficiently of the best designed condenser/heat exchangers and also induces localized corrosion of condenser tubes, and eventually force a shutdown of the most sophisticated water treatment available today. In this paper the various type of cleaning systems to reduce fouling will be discusses. Northern California Power Agency's experience will be used to demonstrate the actual system at their geothermal power plants.