Infrared applications for steam turbine condenser systems

Mark A. Lanius

doi:10.1117/12.381540

30 March 2000 Infrared applications for steam turbine condenser systems

Mark A. Lanius

Proceedings Volume 4020, Thermosense XXII; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.381540
Event: AeroSense 2000, 2000, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Infrared inspection of the main steam condensers at the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station has been utilized successfully in detecting condenser air in-leakage problems. Air in-leakage lowers the condenser's vacuum, thus decreasing the condenser's efficiency. This creates backpressure on the turbine which lowers its efficiency, resulting in fewer megawatts generated. Air in-leakage also creates an increase in off-gas flow which is a radiological concern for both the plant and the public. Inspections are normally performed on the condenser's manway covers and rupture disks prior to an outage during coast down and post outage. The optimum conditions are 100% power and temperature, however, a high radiation field prevents the inspection until reactor power is down to 65% or less. Anomalies are typically indicated by cooling in the effected areas of the air in-leakage. The anomalies are not limited to air in-leakage. Intermittent water out-leakage, due to a heater dump valve cycling, has been detected when visual inspections field nothing.

Citation Download Citation

Mark A. Lanius "Infrared applications for steam turbine condenser systems", Proc. SPIE 4020, Thermosense XXII, (30 March 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.381540

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