IECM 12.0 beta User Manual > Modules Included with the IECM > Pulverized Coal (PC) Plant > SET PARAMETERS > Water Systems > Air Cooled Condenser or 2. Dry Unit >

Performance

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Inputs for the performance of the air cooled condenser are entered on the Performance parameter screen. It is the same for all plant types. The following parameters are provided:

•Air Cooled Condenser:

•Peak Ambient Air Temp (Dry Bulb): (Not shown for hybrid cooling systems .) This refers basically to the ambient air temperature measured by a thermometer. This input specifies the peak ambient temperature.

•Ambient Air Temperature (Dry Bulb Avg.): (Not shown for hybrid cooling systems .) This refers basically to the ambient air temperature measured by a thermometer. This input specifies the annual average ambient temperature.

•Inlet Steam Temperature: This is the temperature of exhaust steam entering the air cooled condenser system. It is calculated as a function of the steam turbine back pressure. The difference between inlet steam and ambient air temperatures significantly affects the performance and cost of the dry cooling system.

•Fan Efficiency: This parameter specifies the electricity efficiency of fan drive system. That is a percent of electrical power inputs to the fans.

•Condenser Plot Area (per cell): This parameter specifies the footprint or plot area of one cell. One cell typically consists of multiple condenser bundles and is served by a large axial flow fan located at the floor of each cell.

•Steam Cycle:

•Turbine Back Pressure: This parameter specifies the quantity of steam turbine back pressure. For the plant installed with a wet cooling system, the steam back pressure ranges from 1.5 to 2.0 inches of Mercury (inches Hg) whereas the steam back pressure for the plant installed with a dry cooling system ranges from 2.0 to 8.0 inches Hg. Turbine back pressure affects the steam cycle heat rate, and indirectly has an effect on the cooling system size when air cooled condensers are loaded.

•Auxiliary Heat Exchanger Load: This parameter specifies additional heat load on the auxiliary condenser and is expressed as a percentage of the load on the primary condenser.

•Air Cooled Condenser Power Requirement: This parameter specifies the power needed to operate the big fans in the dry cooling system. It is also referred to as an energy penalty to the base plant. The electricity required for these big fans is estimated using the air cooled condenser performance model and is expressed as a percentage of the gross plant capacity. It is a function of the initial temperature difference between inlet steam and air and ambient pressure.