Degassed Acid Conductivity (DAC)

- The Fast Way To The Turbine –

Alexander Hörig, Dr. Leye GmbH

Structure

 Why measuring Degassed Acid Conductivity (DAC)?

 Digox 601 dac – Measurement without influencing the
sample temperature
 Testing under real condition – what are the chances?
 Conclusions

Alexander Hörig, Dr. Leye GmbH 2

Why measuring Degassed Acid
Conductivity (DAC)?

 Measurement of conductivity without CO2 influence

 CO2 has no relevance for starting the turbine
 Possible saving of time at start-up processes due to earlier
achievement of necessary steam quality
 CO2 control can be evidence for
 air or cooling water inleakage
 decomposition of organic components in steam-water cycling
 poor feed water quality
 poor degassing

Alexander Hörig, Dr. Leye GmbH 3

 Why measuring Degassed Acid
Conductivity (DAC)?
 Warm-start process (CCGT – power plant)
pressure /
Start Start steam turbine possible, Start steam
temperature to start
Gas turbine waiting for steam purity turbine
steam turbine

Steam purity
Sample flow reliable Waiting for Start steam
acc. to acid
existing results steam purity turbine
conductivity

Possible saving of time

Steam purity
Sample flow reliable Start steam turbine,
acc. to
existing results Steam purity according DAC achieved
degassed acid
conductivity

Time from start gas turbine

Alexander Hörig, Dr. Leye GmbH 4

Digox 601 dac – measurement without
influencing the sample temperature
Design of the Digox 601 dac:
air outlet

spinning disk reactor

CO2 - absorbtion with

cation filter

indicator
degassed
conductivity

specific
specific
conductivity
conductivity air filter
acid
conductivity

inlet outlet dac outlet air pump

Alexander Hörig, Dr. Leye GmbH 5

Digox 601 dac – Measurement without
influencing the sample temperature

Advantages
no expulsing of other volatile
substances
measurement under standard
conditions (temperature,
pressure)
low power consumption
(no boiling requiered)
no inert gas required
Disadvantages
moving parts in the spinning disc
reactor
additional consumables
(CO2 - absorber, lifetime per
filling: 12 month)

Alexander Hörig, Dr. Leye GmbH 6

Testings under real condition
– what are the chances?

 Intention of the testing

 Test of the instrument and the principle under real power plant
conditions
 Recognition of the saving in time for start-up-processes in PPs
 Recognition of the start-up time for the instrument after holdup

 Procedure
 2 Tests within 6 month
 Operation in 2 GuD - plants in Germany
(Benson – Boiler)

 Measurements
 HP Live Steam and Feedwater
 2 cold starts, 7 warm starts, 2 hot starts

PPChem, 7. - 8. Oktober 2009 7

Alexander Hörig, Dr. Leye GmbH
Warm start HP live steam

acid conductivity

degassed
conductivity
conductivity [µS/cm]

start steam turbine

01:13

Time after start gas turbine [hh:mm]

PPChem, 7. - 8. Oktober 2009 8

Alexander Hörig, Dr. Leye GmbH
Start of Digox 601 dac after 16h holdup

specific conductivity

acid and degassed conductivity [µS/cm]

specific conductivity [µS/cm]

acid conductivity
degassed
conductivity

start Digox trustable results after

601 dac 25 min

time [hh:mm]

Alexander Hörig, Dr. Leye GmbH 9

 Testings under real condition
– what are the chances?
 results from testing under real conditions
 The instrument removes CO2 from the sample Digox 601 dac
sufficiently
 The start up time time between starting the
gas turbine and starting the steam turbine can
possibly be shortened by 25 min based on the
measurement of degassed conductivity
 When started after 16 hours holdup of the
instrument trustable measurements can be
achieved after 20-25 min
 dac-measurement is fast, reliable and
repeatable

Alexander Hörig, Dr. Leye GmbH 10

Conclusions

 dac is a worthwhile measurement to optimize the

analytic in water-steam-circles:
 air- / cooling water ingress
 decomposition of organic dosing or components
 poor degassing

 for cold starts (Benson – boiler) the start up time can be

reduced rapidly
 measurement without influencing the temperature gains
real results without removal off other volatile
components

Alexander Hörig, Dr. Leye GmbH 11

 Thank you for your attention!

Alexander Hörig, Dr. Leye GmbH 12