Heat Transfer Analysis in Cooling System of Hydropower’s Generator

Abdollah Khalesi Doost^*, Reza Majlessi

Engineering Faculty, Islamic Azad University, Semnan Branch, Semnan, Iran.

DOI: 10.4236/ojapps.2015.53010                

Abstract

Cooling process of power plant generator is handled via air-cooled radiators in which the cooling water is supplied from lake with its water temperature varies from season to season. In this study, the effect of temperature fluctuations of cooling water entering the cooling system has been examined via analysis of energy (NTU method) and exergy. The exergy analysis has been done by definition of efficiency coefficient for exergy of cooling media (water) and heating media (air). Besides, the effect of changing the cooling water temperature and flow rate entering the radiators on the cooling system performance has been studied. The results revealed the generator cooling system performance level held sufficient till the temperature of inlet water was kept under 293 k (20°C). On one hand, when the temperature of cooling water at the inlet rises to 12°C, the rate of heat exchange at radiators falls up to 34.3%. On the other hand, by water temperature passing the 12°C limit, the efficiency of cooling media exergy falls to 78% leading to efficiency rise in radiators’ heating media exergy level to 61%. According to the results of this study, changing flow rate of cooling media up to 40% gives rise to the efficiency coefficient of radiators’ cooling media exergy level to about 18.7%. While it does not affect the efficiency level of energy at radiators, the flow rate rise of cooling media may not be considered as a way to give rise to efficiency level of radiators.

Keywords

Cooling of Generator, Air Cooler, Energy Efficiency, Exergy Analyses, Hydropower

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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