DESIGN CONCEPT OF

ONCE-THROUGH CW SYSTEM
.
1. What is Siphon?

△P
△P Siphon
△hs
Effect
(△hs)

△H

Pump covers △P only. Pump covers △P and △H.

Pump is not necessary to cover siphon height (△hs)

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 2. What is Siphon Limit?
(1) Theoretical Siphon Limit :
Siphon is effective as far as tube is filled with water. However, water column
height is limited with 10.33m under one standard atmospheric pressure. (1 atm)

(2) Actual Siphon Limit :

Where, hs,max = Siphon limit at condenser outlet (m)

hatm = Standard atmospheric pressure (10.33m)
hvap = Vapor pressure at condenser outlet (0.75m at 40℃)
hm = Margin for atmospheric pressure
( 1013 mb → 900 mb : 113 mb (1.15m) )
hmisc = Other miscellaneous margin (0.5m)

hs,max = 10.33 – 0.75 – 1.15 – 0.5 = 7.93 m

In general, 7.9 m is applied as fixed value for siphon limit.

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3. Hydraulic Gradient of CW System (without
weir)

Negative pressure area

Condenser Tube Top

CWP Siphon
TDH
(Remark)
Max. siphon to be checked
at LWL against siphon limit.

HWL HWL

LWL LWL

Condenser inlet piping Condenser Cond. outlet piping Outfall channel

Intake pipe &
Screen
Reference Point

Intake head
CWP Condenser Condenser Seal pit
Outfall
inlet outlet without weir
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4. Hydraulic Gradient of CW System (with weir)
The weir is only arranged in case the siphon value exceeds
the siphon limit. The weir height (△H) is equal to the exces-
sive siphon head above the siphon limit.

Negative pressure area

Condenser Tube Top

CWP Siphon (Remark)

TDH
Siphon value does not
change by HWL and LWL
against limit.

Reference Point

△H (Static head)

HWL HWL

LWL LWL

Condenser inlet piping Condenser Cond. outlet piping Outfall channel

Intake pipe &
Screen

Intake headCWP Condenser Condenser Seal pit Outfall

inlet outlet with weir
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5. What happens if actual siphon exceeds siphon limit?

Unlike siphon tube, water separation will occur at condenser upper

part and siphon is still effective at lower part of condenser.
Vacuum
As there is no water in the upper
part, especially condenser outlet
part, the exposed part will lose heat
exchange function, i.e., condenser
loses surface area of heat exchange.

Vacuum pump for condenser water box will not function if the
negative pressure exceed the siphon limit.

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 6. 2P2S vs. 1P2S Operation
<2P2S> <1P2S> (winter)

CWP Condenser CWP Condenser

<CWP Q-H Curve> In 1P2S operation, flow rate decreases to

60 ~ 65 %. That is, system loss decreases
2P
2P opera- to 36 ~ 42 %.
tion
1P

Head 2P2S 2P2S Siphon

1P2S Siphon
System 1P operation
Curve 1P2S

To be increased
Flow by weir.
50% 60~65% 100%

Countermeasures in water to avoid excessive vacuum Cond. outlet pip- Outfall chan-
in condenser. Condenser ing nel

① Throttle condenser outlet valves Cond. in Cond. out Seal pit Outfall
② Arrange weir to meet within siphon limit with 1P2S. 7/12
7. Design Sea Water Level
In general, the following sea water level are defined.
Name Level Description

HHWL Highest High Water Level -Usually, recorded spring tide highest.
-Plant ground level (grade level)
-CWP pit design
HWL High Water Level -Annual average of monthly highest water
level or monthly mean highest water level
-CWP pit design
MWL Mean Water Level -Annual monthly mean water level

LWL Low Water Level -Annual average of monthly lowest water

-CWP pit design, especially NPSH study
-Calculation Base of CWP head
-Usually, used as datum level for sea depth
LLWL Lowest Low Water Level -Usually, recorded spring tide lowest.
-CWP pit design.
-Not a design base for CWP head
(Remark) In general, ITB specifies the sea water levels as one of site conditions.
calculation
Name and definition are different by country and by observation point.
Official data are available from geographical authorities of relevant country.
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8. Impact to Turbine Elevation Arrangement
Siphon Study has big impact to decide the condenser tube top level.
Then, The following items shall be decided from the condenser tube
top level.
① Turbine operating floor level (3F level)
② Condenser pit depth (1) Higher the condenser top level, higher
the 3F level. Thus, the height of tur-
bine building will be increased.
LPT
(2) Lower the condenser top level, deeper
3 FL
the condenser pit level. Thus, cost for
concrete works will be increased.
7~9m FL = 0.3 m + GL (EL)
2 FL GL = 3 m + LWL (Datum)
∴ Condenser tube top level (example)
Condenser tube top level = 6 m + 3.3 m + LWL = 9.3 m + LWL
1 FL
(G 3F level (design target +FL)
L)
1000 MW class : 15 m
500 ~ 700 MW class : 13~15 m
350 MW class : 13 m
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9. Economic Evaluation of Auxiliary Power Increase by Weir

If the weir is arranged, total required head (TDH) of CWP will increased by
weir height + water overflow height, say, △H (m).
Increase of auxiliary power is,

If CW flow rate is 90,000 t/h, △H is 4 m, pump efficiency is 85 % and motor

efficiency is 95 %. The increased power is,
Equal to +0.2% aux. power, or
Equal to +4 kcal/kWh.
The present value of 1211 kW is,
1211 x 8760h x 0.7 (load factor) x 0.08$/kWh x 8 (PV factor)
= 4.8 million US$

Where, PV factor is based on discount rate of 12% and plant life of 30 years.

r : discount rate
n : plant life
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10. Summary
Siphon study has big impacts to,

(1) Turbine hall operating floor level (3 FL), i.e., total height of
turbine building
(How much cost increase by 3m for 200m x 35m turbine hall?)
(2) Condenser pit depth
(Usually, more economical for deeper condenser pit rather
than to raise turbine building total height.)
(3) Auxiliary power increase of CWP by weir
(Approx. +0.2% or +4 kcal/kWh)

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