Subject : Power Plant Engineering

Topic: Chap 3: Steam Power Plants

Difficulty: Medium

Marks : 5M

The circuit includes a pump, condenser, cooling tower etc. the exhaust steam from the turbine is condensed in condenser. In the condenser, cold water is circulated to condense the steam into water. The steam is condensed by losing its latent heat to the circulating cold water.

Thus the circulating water is heated. This hot water is then taken to a cooling tower, In cooling tower, the water is sprayed in the form of droplets through nozzles. The atmospheric air enters the cooling tower from the openings provided at the bottom of the tower. This air removes heat from water. Cooled water is collected in a pond (known as cooling pond).

This cold water is again circulated through the pump, condenser and cooling tower. Thus the cycle is repeated again and again. Some amount of water may be lost during the circulation due to vaporization etc. Hence, make up water is added to the pond by means of a pump. This water is obtained from a river or lake