Title: The combined effect of changes in the condenser cooling seawater temperature, fouling and salinity on the thermal performance of a pressurised water reactor nuclear power plant

Authors: Said M.A. Ibrahim; Sami I. Attia

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Power Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, AL-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo 11371, Egypt ' Nuclear Power Plants Authority, 4 El-Nasr Avenue, P.O. Box 8191, Nasr City, Cairo 11371, Egypt

Abstract: This study presents the effect of temperature, fouling factor and salinity of the condenser cooling seawater and adverse effect on the thermal performance of a nuclear power plant. These are the most important factors affecting the condenser performance. The study is carried out on a pressurised water reactor nuclear power plant. The results showed that a loss in the plant output power and thermal efficiency of up to 8.242% and 2.77%, respectively, can result from an increase in the condenser cooling seawater temperature by about 15-30°C, fouling factor of seawater and treated boiler feed water by about 0.00015-0.00035 and 0.00005-0.00015 m² K/W, respectively, and salinity by about 0-100 g/kg. This paper investigates three real practical factors that have been proved to have significant adverse effects on the thermal efficiency of nuclear power plants.

Keywords: PWR secondary cycle; pressurised water reactors; condenser performance; fouling factor; salinity; nuclear energy; nuclear power; temperature changes; condenser cooling; seawater cooling; temperature; thermal efficiency; nuclear power plants; NPP.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2015.067845

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2015 Vol.9 No.1, pp.78 - 103

Received: 09 Jul 2014
Accepted: 20 Jan 2015

Published online: 05 Mar 2015 *

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