Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Performance of Stainless Steel Tubes in Condensers Associated with Cooling Towers

  • Published:
Journal of Materials for Energy Systems

Abstract

Bechtel Power Corporation has carried out two studies on steam plant surface condenser leakage for the Electric Power Research Institute. The report on the first study was issued in 1977 and the report on the second in 1981.

The results of the first study indicated that there was a greater than 90 pct probability that stainless steel tubes would provide a 40-year life with less than 2 pct of the tubes plugged in once through cooling systems utilizing fresh water. However, there was concern that this data might be misleading since severe corrosion had occurred on some tubes where failure rate data was not available.

The second study covered a larger sample of stainless steel condenser tubes but was limited to those operating on recirculating water cooled by cooling towers having fresh water makeup. The results indicated that Types 304 and 316 stainless steel condenser tubes perform well under these conditions with a greater than 90 pct probability that the tubes will provide a 40-year life with very few tubes, if any, having to be plugged because of corrosion.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. W. B. Lawrence,et al:Steam Plant Surface Condenser Leakage Study, EPRI NP-481, Project 624-1, Bechtel Corporation, San Francisco, CA, March 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  2. S.W.W. Shor,et al:Steam Plant Surface Condenser Leakage Study Update, EPRI NP-2062, Project RP-1778-1, Bechtel National, Inc., San Francisco, CA, July 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  3. E. H. Newton and J. D. Birkett:Survey of Condenser Tube Life in Salt Water Service, U. S. Department of the Interior, the Office of Saline Water, Report No. 278, August 1967.

  4. J. C. Tverberg and N. Leuchak:Effect of Cooling Water Chemistry on Condenser Performance, 41st American Power Conference, Chicago, IL, April 23–25, 1979.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bechtel Power Company, P.O. Box 3965, 94119, San Francisco, CA

    J. Rios (Engineering Specialist)

  2. Bechtel Power Corporation, P.O. Box 3965, 94119, San Francisco, CA

    W. W. Shor (Principal Engineer)

Authors
  1. J. Rios
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. W. Shor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rios, J., Shor, W.W. Performance of Stainless Steel Tubes in Condensers Associated with Cooling Towers. JMES 4, 131–135 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02833404

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02833404

Keywords

Search

Navigation