HEAT

EXCHANGE
INSTITUTE, INC.
STANDARDS for
STEAM SURFACE
CONDENSERS­

ELEVENTH EDITION
©
Copyright October 2012 by
Heat Exchange Institute
1300 Sumner Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2851

Reproduction of any portion of this standard without written permission of the

Heat Exchange Institute is strictly forbidden.

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 CONTENTS
Page
1.0 NOMENCLATURE………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1
2.0 DEFINITIONS ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
2.1 Absolute Pressure………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
2.2 Circulating Water Velocity……………………………………………………………………………… 3
2.3 Cleanliness Factor………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
2.4 Condensate Temperature Depression (Subcooling)…………………………………………………… 3
2.5 Condenser Duty…………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
2.6 Condenser Heat Transfer Coefficient…………………………………………………………………… 3
2.7 Condenser Pressure………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
2.8 Condensing Steam Temperature………………………………………………………………………… 3
2.9 Effective Surface…………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
2.10 Effective Tube Length……………………………………………………………………………………… 3
2.11 Hotwell Capacity…………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
2.12 Initial Temperature Difference…………………………………………………………………………… 3
2.13 Logarithmic Mean Temperature Difference…………………………………………………………… 3
2.14 Static Pressure……………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
2.15 Temperature Rise………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
2.16 Terminal Temperature Difference……………………………………………………………………… 3
3.0 SYMBOLS AND UNITS…………………………………………………………………………………………… 4-5

4.0 CONDENSER PERFORMANCE………………………………………………………………………………… 6

4.1 General Considerations…………………………………………………………………………………… 6
4.2 Heat Transfer Rates……………………………………………………………………………………… 6
4.3 Oxygen Content of Condensate…………………………………………………………………………… 13
4.4 Performance Curves……………………………………………………………………………………… 15
4.5 Hydraulic Loss-Circulating Water Pressure Loss…………………………………………………… 15
4.6 Condensate Temperature Depression…………………………………………………………………… 18
4.7 Geothermal Applications………………………………………………………………………………… 25
5.0 SERVICE CONNECTIONS………………………………………………………………………………………… 26
5.1 General Considerations…………………………………………………………………………………… 26
5.2 Flow Data…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 26
5.3 Connection Locations……………………………………………………………………………………… 26
5.4 Connection Design Guidelines…………………………………………………………………………… 27
5.5 Turbine Bypass Guidelines……………………………………………………………………………… 28

6.0 VENTING EQUIPMENT CAPACITIES………………………………………………………………………… 29

6.1 Venting Requirements…………………………………………………………………………………… 29
6.2 Design Suction Pressure ………………………………………………………………………………… 29
6.3 Design Suction Temperature…………………………………………………………………………… 29
6.4 Calculation of Water Vapor Load Component………………………………………………………… 29
6.5 Minimum Recommended Capacities…………………………………………………………………… 29
6.6 Rapid Evacuation Equipment…………………………………………………………………………… 30
7.0 ATMOSPHERIC RELIEF DEVICES……………………………………………………………………………… 35
7.1 General …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 35
7.2 Atmospheric Relief Valves………………………………………………………………………………… 35
7.3 Rupture Devices…………………………………………………………………………………………… 35
8.0 CONSTRUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 36
8.1 General …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 36
8.1.1 Design Philosophy……………………………………………………………………………… 36
8.1.2 Materials of Construction……………………………………………………………………… 36
8.1.3 Design Pressures……………………………………………………………………………… 36
8.1.4 Hydrostatic Testing…………………………………………………………………………… 36
8.1.5 Corrosion Allowances………………………………………………………………………… 37
8.2 Design And Construction Methods ……………………………………………………………………… 38
8.2.1 Design Factors of Safety……………………………………………………………………… 38
8.2.2 Design By More Exact Analyses and By Empirical Formula and Testing…………… 38
8.2.3 Shell Design …………………………………………………………………………………… 38
8.2.4 Support Plate Design Guidelines…………………………………………………………… 40
8.2.5 Water Box Thickness Design Guidelines…………………………………………………… 44

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 CONTENTS (continued)

8.2.6 Design Procedures For Flanges and Bolting……………………………………………… 46

8.2.7 Tubesheet Design Guidelines………………………………………………………………… 46
8.2.8 Condenser Tube Ends………………………………………………………………………… 50
8.2.9 Tubesheet and Support Plate Hole Criteria ……………………………………………… 50
8.3 Welding …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 52
8.4 Lagging for Extraction Lines and Feedwater Heaters……………………………………………… 52
8.5 Fabrication for Geothermal Service……………………………………………………………………… 54
8.6 Condenser Support Systems……………………………………………………………………………… 55
9.0 INSPECTION, QUALITY, TRANSPORTATION, AND FIELD INSTALLATION………………………… 56
9.1 Inspection and Quality of Welding Standards………………………………………………………… 56
9.2 Surface Preparation Requirements……………………………………………………………………… 56
9.3 Painting, Coating, Linings, and Corrosion Protection……………………………………………… 60
9.4 Quality Assurance………………………………………………………………………………………… 60
9.5 Dimensional Tolerances…………………………………………………………………………………… 61
9.6 Shipping and Site Storage………………………………………………………………………………… 61
9.7 Field Installation ………………………………………………………………………………………… 61
9.8 Erection Superintendent Duties………………………………………………………………………… 62
9.9 Post Erection Walk Down………………………………………………………………………………… 62
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A Typical Specification for Steam Surface Condensers……………………………………… 66
APPENDIX B Metric Conversion Factors…………………………………………………………………… 71
APPENDIX C Areas of Circular Segments…………………………………………………………………… 75
APPENDIX D Procedure for Calculating Allowable Nozzle External Forces and
Moments in Cylindrical Vessels …………………………………………………………… 76
APPENDIX E Air and Water Vapor Mixture Data (Dalton’s Law)……………………………………… 81
APPENDIX F Mechanical Characteristics of Tubing……………………………………………………… 83
APPENDIX G Troubleshooting Guide………………………………………………………………………… 87
APPENDIX H HEI Surface Condenser Data Sheet………………………………………………………… 91
APPENDIX I Condenser Tubes Stress Values……………………………………………………………… 92
APPENDIX J Condenser Material Stress Values…………………………………………………………… 93
APPENDIX K Tubes Material Properties…………………………………………………………………… 94
APPENDIX L Condenser Performance……………………………………………………………………… 95

TABLES
TABLE 1 Uncorrected Heat Transfer Coefficients U1………………………………………………… 7
TABLE 2 Inlet Water Temperature Correction Factor F W…………………………………………… 9
TABLE 3 Tube Material and Gauge Correction Factors F M………………………………………… 11
TABLE 4 Venting Capacity and Oxygen Content……………………………………………………… 13
TABLE 5 Gauge Correction Factor for Friction Loss R 2……………………………………………… 18
TABLE 6 Rapid Evacuation Equipment Dry Air Capacities………………………………………… 31
TABLE 6A Venting Equipment Capacities: One Condenser Shell…………………………………… 32
TABLE 6B Venting Equipment Capacities: Two Condenser Shells………………………………… 33
TABLE 6C Venting Equipment Capacities: Three Condenser Shells………………………………… 34
TABLE 7 Atmospheric Relief Valve Sizes……………………………………………………………… 35
TABLE 8 Typical Materials of Construction…………………………………………………………… 37
TABLE 9 Correction Factor K 1…………………………………………………………………………… 45
TABLE 10 Correction Factor K 2…………………………………………………………………………… 45
TABLE 11 Correction Factor K 3…………………………………………………………………………… 45
TABLE 12 Support Plate Hole Size Limits……………………………………………………………… 50
TABLE 13 Tubesheet Hole Size Limits…………………………………………………………………… 50
TABLE 14 Weld Acceptance Criteria……………………………………………………………………… 58
TABLE 15 Condenser Surface Preparation Requirements…………………………………………… 63
FIGURES
FIGURE 1 Uncorrected Heat Transfer Cofficeints U 1………………………………………………… 8
FIGURE 2 Inlet Water Temperature Correction Factor F W…………………………………………… 10
FIGURE 3 Absolute Pressure Limit Curves for Oxygen Content…………………………………… 14
FIGURE 4 Sample Performance Curve…………………………………………………………………… 15
FIGURE 5 Absolute Pressure Limit Curves……………………………………………………………… 16
FIGURE 6 Friction Loss for Water Flowing in 18 BWG Tubes R T…………………………………… 19
FIGURE 7 Temperature Correction for Friction Loss in Tubes R 1…………………………………… 20
FIGURE 8 Water Box and Tube End Losses Single Pass Condensers R E…………………………… 21

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 CONTENTS (continued)

FIGURE 9 Water Box and Tube End Losses Two Pass Condensers R E……………………………… 22
FIGURE 10 Water Box and Tube End Losses Three Pass Condensers R E…………………………… 23
FIGURE 11 Water Box and Tube End Losses Four Pass Condensers R E…………………………… 24
FIGURE 12-13 Point Support – Pipe…………………………………………………………………………… 38
FIGURE 14 Point Support – Double Clips………………………………………………………………… 39
FIGURE 15 Point Support – Single Clips………………………………………………………………… 39
FIGURE 16 Ribs……………………………………………………………………………………………… 39
FIGURE 17 Design Nozzle Loading on Flat Plate……………………………………………………… 39
FIGURE 18 Spacing of Longitudinal Stiffeners…………………………………………………………… 40
FIGURE 19 Cylindrical Condenser Shell Thickness…………………………………………………… 41
FIGURE 20 Stiffening Rings Required Moment of Inertia …………………………………………… 42
FIGURE 21 Determination of L U…………………………………………………………………………… 43
FIGURE 22 Rib Supported Panels………………………………………………………………………… 44
FIGURE 23-24 Bolting of Flat Faced Flanges………………………………………………………………… 46
FIGURE 25 Gasket Seating Pressure……………………………………………………………………… 46
FIGURE 26-28 Required Flange Thickness…………………………………………………………………… 46
FIGURE 29 Idealized Representation of Tubesheet Loading…………………………………………… 50
FIGURE 30 Tubesheet Showing Beam-Strip Locations………………………………………………… 51
FIGURE 31 Beam-Strip for a Tube Pattern of Triangular Pitch……………………………………… 51
FIGURE 32 Beam-Strip for a Laned Tube Pattern of Triangular Pitch……………………………… 51
FIGURE 33 Section AA through Beam-Strip of Figure 32……………………………………………… 51
FIGURE 34 Structural Model for Beam-Strip of Figure 33…………………………………………… 51
FIGURE 35 Moment and Deflection Curves for Beam-Strip of Figure 32…………………………… 51
FIGURE 36-42 Typical Condenser Welds……………………………………………………………………… 52
FIGURE 43 Weld Geometries……………………………………………………………………………… 53
FIGURE 44 Welding Nomenclature………………………………………………………………………… 57
FIGURE 45 Standard Tolerances for Interfaces and Supports –  English Units…………………… 64
FIGURE 45M Standard Tolerances for Interfaces and Supports – Metric Units……………………… 65

v
HEAT
EXCHANGE
INSTITUTE, INC.
Addendum 1

STANDARDS for
STEAM SURFACE
CONDENSERS­

©
Copyright August 2014 by
Heat Exchange Institute
1300 Sumner Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2851

Reproduction of any portion of this addendum without written permission of

the Heat Exchange Institute is strictly forbidden.