R&D Direct Contact Condenser

Function: Condense turbine exhaust steam by use of cold seawater in direct contact.

What do we know?

Operating temperature, pressure, and noncondensible gas concentration ranges well known from system analysis.
Cocurrent and countercurrent deaerated freshwater seawater performance experimentally known for Munters packings.
Detailed analytical code, checked against freshwater experiments, is available.
Liquid pressure drop well known from single-phase hydrodynamics, vapor pressure drop, and condensation ranges established from freshwater experiments.
Bio/macro fouling now a problem in typical low-oxygen cold seawater.
Condenser internals can be made from plastics. Corrosion not a concern; costs well-established. Containment cost and material less well established (steel/concrete options explored depending on size).
Parametric studies of leak rate have bracketed system effects.
Vent compression exhaust removal systems available commercially.

Operating conditions of direct contact condenser.
Design and performance including effect of water distribution, staging, etc., on condensation and liquid and vapor pressure losses.
Materials selection and component costs.
Leak rate of air into vacuum system.
Dynamic performance and stability.
System interactions, integration, and operational control.
Vent compressor exhaust system requirements, design, cost, and performance.

Determine effects of cold seawater pre-deaeration on performance.
Determine scaling effects including water distribution, vapor passageways, etc.
Determine effects of dissolved gas evolution on condensation rates (blanketing, reverse gradient).
Reduce uncertainty in containment costs, materials and leak rates by specific engineering designs.
Determine system interactions, integration, and control through construction and operation of test facilities and net power-producing experiment.
Determine stability and dynamic performance in typical seawater environment.
Verify vent compression exhaust removal performance and cost through specific designs and industry dialogue.
Determine long-term reliability.
Obtain operational data for commercial environments.