MAINTENANCE OF STEAM CONDENSER

 In large capacity ammonia plants a common Turbine a big size condenser(Elephant condenser) are used for 3 or 4 turbine.The condenser is is multi components type and you can isolate particular turbine each turbine having isolation valve and condenser you can isolate particular parts. In condenser you can isolate partially. you can isolate condenser half.some of the condenser separates lines of cooling water are given.If Cooling water lines are not separate then you can not isolate.

however following regularly maintenance are required for turbine condensers.
1. The regular monitoring of CF.
Condensers are typically designed with an 85% cleanliness factor that allows for some fouling. As the condenser begins fouling and uses the extra area, the condenser performance is affected. The tube velocity will increase if the same cooling water flow rate is used.
The cleanliness factor (CF), is an alternate measurement of relative degradation in exchanger performance. CF=Ud/Uc ×100 CF is closed to 100 for a clean exchanger and decrease over time as the exchanger fouls.
Uc is calculated immediately after the exchanger has been cleaned, at the time of the current cycle.
2. Chemical treatment should be proper.Several chemicals are used to control condenser tube fouling. Chemicals are primarily utilised with recirculating cooling towers, because the concentration of dissolved constituents is significant, increasing the threat of scaling and corrosion, Typical chemical treatment methods used today include adding scale inhibitors, dispersants, biocides, corrosion inhibitors, and chemicals for pH control.
3. Other designs return the devices to the inlet via backwashing. Because of the random distribution of some of the cleaning devices, not all tubes receive consistent cleaning.Increasing cooling water flow through the condenser can be effective in limiting microbiological growth. This approach will also keep cooling water temperatures lower, possibly to a point at which scale is less likely to form. However, higher flow rates can cause increased rates of erosion-corrosion in copper alloys.
4. in shut down Eddy current should be done for thickness of the each tube, the suspected tube should be plugged