A method and an apparatus are provided for the operational monitoring of a condenser including a steam chamber through which steam to be condensed flows and at least one configuration having a plurality of tubes in the steam chamber through which a coolant fluid passes from an inlet to an outlet end. The steam pressure and/or temperature is measured at least at one measuring point in the steam chamber. In addition, the inlet temperature of the coolant fluid at the inlet end, the outlet temperature of the coolant fluid at the outlet end and the coolant fluid mass throughput are measured at each selected tube. The measurements are evaluated to determine the heat transfer coefficient of each selected tube and the coefficients thus determined are assessed for diagnostic purposes. In particular, a signal is given when at least one heat transfer coefficient differs substantially from a predetermined setting.
An algorithm calculates, in real time, the overall heat transfer coefficient for an air-cooled chiller system and compares this value to a reference value corresponding to a new machine operating with a clean condenser. Based on this comparison, an indication is displayed to inform a user of the degree of degradation in condenser performance.
In a method of monitoring the condition of soiling and/or calcification of heat exchangers in heating installations, subsequent operational data of temperature and pump speed are collected in turns during the operation and compared with the initial operational data of temperature and pump speed collected in an initial condition, for instance when an installation is put into service initially. When an admissible deviation of the subsequent operational data from the initial operational data is exceeded, which is as a rule to be attributed to the soiling and/or calcification of the heat exchanger, a corresponding malfunction signal is emitted or the heating installation is switched off. In accordance with the method, a conventional heating installation is provided with a monitoring device, by means of which the soiling and/or calcification of the heat exchanger is automatically checked in turns.
An electro-mechanical, dual tube and plug device for on-line monitoring of performance losses due to reduced conductivity of a non condensing heat exchanger resulting from micro-bio fouling of the surfaces of said heat exchanger and for detecting change of heat transfer resistance of individual heat transfer tubes. The dual tube and plug assembly includes a first flow assembly tube and a second temperature assembly tube attached to the discharge end of a heat exchanger for providing accurate measurement of temperature and cooling water flow. The first flow assembly tube includes a tube having an inner chamber, including a flow sensor a temperature sensor for measuring discharge water temperature. The second temperature assembly tube plugs the inlet and the outlet of a heat transfer tube immediately adjacent to the flow assembly tube and includes a plurality of temperature sensors in the plugged empty heat transfer tube. Flow and discharge temperature signals from a first dual tube device are combined with other flow and discharge temperature signals, from additional dual tube devices. These signals are sent to a micro-processor which, utilizing inlet water temperature data provided by an inlet temperature sensor, continuously calculates, records and displays the individual heat transfer tube heat transfer co-efficient.
Water quality detecting points for detecting sea water leakage are provided at a portion in a hot well zone right under a tube bundle of heat exchange tube forming a steam condensing zone and at a condenser outlet allowing the condensate to be led out of the condenser or in the vicinity thereof, and a difference between detection values at both detecting points is monitored. Further, when leakage of sea water occurred, a feed water stop valve or a condensate stop valve is stopped for separating the system in which the sea water is mixed, and at same time, make-up water is supplied to a steam generator. Further, chemical or chemical dilution water is injected into the condensate mixed with sea water.
A on-line monitoring system of a simulated heat-exchanger which includes a plurality of temperature sensors adapted to detect the temperatures of cold water and hot water at respective water inlets and water outlets, a flowrate detector adapted to detect the flow rate of cold water, an A/D converter adapted to convert detected temperature signals and flowrate signal into corresponding digital signals, and a microprocessor adapted to calculate total heat transmission rate subject to the data obtained from the A/D converter and to calculate the heat transmission constant of the heat exchanging tube inside the heat exchanging chamber, then to store the calculated data in a memory for use as a reference value for the calculation of a next heat transmission rate so as to further calculate the heat transmission rate and thickness of fouling of the heat exchanging tube by comparing the latest coefficient of heat transmission with the previous coefficient of heat transmission, permitting the calculated result to be shown through an output device such as a monitor, the change of coefficient of heat transmission being caused by the deposit of fouling in the inside wall of the heat exchanging tube.
