A favorable face velocity distribution and a V-frame cell for power plant air-cooled condensers

The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of the face velocity distribution on the thermal performance of a steam-electric power plant air-cooled condenser (ACC), and to explore the characteristics of a favorable face velocity distribution (FFVD). The experimental study on an A-frame cell chosen from a widely used power plant ACCs showed that the face velocity distribution tends to increase in a direction of the tube-side steam-condensate flow. In order to investigate other type of face velocity distributions, an on-site wind tunnel with seven same size finned-tubes tied into the power plant ACC's steam and vacuum system was constructed, and the face velocity distributions were experimentally studied. It is found that the FFVD exhibits a face velocity distribution opposite to that measured from the A-frame cell. Adjusting the face velocity distribution towards the FFVD through air deflectors improved the thermal performance of the test specimen by as much as 6%. Based on the experimental results, a V-frame ACC cell is proposed. The numerical study verified that the V-frame ACC cell exhibits the primary characteristic of the FFVD. This study provides a valuable guide for the enhancement of the thermal performance of power plant ACCs, to adjust the face velocity distribution towards the FFVD.