⚡ AnythingOnline
💧
Steam Surface Condenser & Cooling Water Duty Calculator mechanical
100% Free • No Sign-Up

Steam Surface Condenser & Cooling Water Duty Calculator

Size main turbine surface condensers, circulating cooling water flow rates, logarithmic mean temperature difference (LMTD), and TTD per HEI standards.

Exhaust Steam Condensing Duty

Typical: 50 - 100 mbar abs
Wet exhaust steam: ~ 2350 - 2420 kJ/kg

Circulating Cooling Water & Heat Transfer

Cooling tower basin or river supply
Standard design: 7°C - 10°C
Titanium / SS / Admiralty Brass
HEI standard design: 85%

Sizing & Thermal Sizing Results

Circulating Cooling Water Flow
-- m³/h
-- GPM circulating flow
Condensation Duty
-- MW(th)
-- MMBtu/hr
Required Surface Area
-- m²
-- ft² tube area
Condensing Saturation Temp (Tsat): -- °C
Cooling Water Outlet Temp: -- °C
Terminal Temp Difference (TTD): -- °C
Log Mean Temp Difference (LMTD): -- °C
Design Effective U (with Cleanliness): -- W/m²·K
--

Recommended Tools & Equipment

Tested hardware and components for high reliability

100% Free Tool Zero Sign-Up

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Terminal Temperature Difference (TTD) in a surface condenser?

TTD is the temperature difference between the condensing steam saturation temperature (Tsat) inside the condenser shell and the cooling water discharge temperature (Tcwo) leaving the waterbox: TTD = Tsat - Tcwo. HEI standards stipulate that design TTD should never be less than 5°F (2.8°C).

Why is an 85% cleanliness factor standard in HEI calculations?

New, pristine condenser tubes exhibit high initial heat transfer, but continuous exposure to open cooling tower water causes biological slime, silt deposition, and micro-fouling. Designing with an 85% HEI cleanliness factor guarantees full condensing performance between periodic mechanical sponge ball (Taprogge) cleanings.

How does condenser vacuum directly impact steam turbine heat rate?

Every 10 mbar improvement in condenser vacuum (e.g. dropping backpressure from 80 mbar to 70 mbar) increases the enthalpy drop across the turbine low-pressure blades, yielding an extra 0.8% to 1.5% in gross electrical power output with zero increase in fuel consumption.