The possibility of strengthening the cooling system of single and double-pass steam power cooling tower facilities, including technical, chemical, economic and environmental evaluations

In the past, certain power plants in the country utilized wet cooling systems to condense the return steam from the turbine, primarily due to factors like abundant water resources, unrestricted access to underground water reserves, and limited urban development. However, with the current water crisis and high water consumption associated with wet cooling systems, developers of thermal power plants are increasingly opting for dry cooling towers. This thesis focuses on a specific steam thermal power plant in an urban area, contemplating the transition from a wet to a dry cooling system. The transition will be analyzed from technical, economic, chemical, and environmental perspectives. Initially, the thermodynamic cycle of the steam power plant under the wet cooling system will be simulated using the Thermoflow software version ۲۳. Subsequently, various worldwide cooling systems will be assessed as potential replacements for the existing wet cooling system. A critical aspect of designing and modeling the cooling system involves determining the optimal temperature, which will be based on meteorological data, location-specific considerations, technical and economic factors, and simulation outcomes for each alternative. Additionally, the choice of chemical control regime for the water and steam cycle during operation will be evaluated based on the cooling system type, heat surface materials, and system equipment. Power plants have also been affected by this water shortage, resulting in reduced capacity and occasional inability to operate at maximum efficiency. As a result, power plants are increasingly using alternative cooling systems that rely less on water consumption, such as dry towers. Several power plants, including Isfahan, Hamdan, Tarasht, Bathat and Montazer Qaim, have acknowledged this issue and are taking necessary measures to resolve it. Finally, using Thermoflow software and geothermal data, the old wet cooling tower was replaced with a new dry ACC cycle and the effect of this change on cycle and power plant performance characteristics was evaluated. Also, an environmental, chemical and economic assessment has been conducted to analyze other aspects of the proposed cycle and its feasibility.

کلیدواژه ها:

Wet Cooling Tower ، Single and Double Pass Cooling Tower ، Steam Condenser