Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery
Polish Academy of Sciences

In 2010, work on the issue of condensation of water vapour from steam-air mixture in condensers continued. This issue is theoretical and utilitarian.

The objectives of the work are:

• developing an effective method and system of suction of inert gases from capacitors
• continuation of work on tubular bundle optimization in heat circuit capacitors

It is known that the presence of inert gases in condensers of steam circuits significantly affects heat exchange processes. These gases, through leaks to steam circuits, worsen energy exchange, contribute to major energy losses and further economic losses. The presence of these gases in condensers increases fuel consumption (carbon) per unit of energy produced and thus increases carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. There are two ways to avoid the presence of inert gases in capacitors: effective suction from the device's volume and to eliminate leaks of vacuum systems. Research shows that very intense and unambiguous changes in the concentration of air occur in condensers space. Previous studies have identified the mechanisms of this phenomenon. These are drifting of the inert particles along with the flow of the water vapour and displaceing these particles towards the gradient of decreasing water vapour pressure over the heat exchange space.