Volume V, Issue III, March 2016 IJLTEMAS ISSN 2278 – 2540

Influence of Feed Water Heaters on the Performance

of Coal Fired Power Plants
E. Devandiran1, V. S. Shaisundaram2, P.Sabari Ganesh3, S.Vivek4
1,2
Assistant Professor , Department of Mechanical Engineering, Easwari Engineering College, Chennai – 89,Tamil Nadu, India.
3,4
U.G student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Easwari Engineering College, Chennai – 89,Tamil Nadu, India.

Abstract: This paper shows the effects of the feed water heaters The heat recovery system has become an effective method to
on the performance of coal fired power plants. By adding the increase the thermal efficiency in modern thermal power plant
feed water heaters in power plant cycle, the overall efficiency of [1]. The Feedwater heaters increase the Rankine cycle
the power plant is increased by 2.4 %. Improving the power efficiency by raising the temperature of feed water that is
plant efficiency could alleviate the negative effect of coal
piped into the steam generator, in such a way that the
consumption on CO2 emission. By means of thermodynamic
optimization it is propose to include the feed water heaters in necessary thermal energy transferred to the steam to increase
power plant cycle, achieving optimum power plant efficiency. the enthalpy of the system will be lower.
Simulations have been carried out using HMBD software.
Results show a feasible improvement of the overall power plant In closed feedwater heater, the heat is transferred from the
efficiency. This implies a direct reduction of CO2 emission of extracted steam of steam turbine to the feedwater heater
about 1.3 %. Moreover, the financial analysis confirms the without mixing taking place. The feedwater flows through the
feasibility of proposal analyzed and shows the additional yearly tubes in the heater and extracted steam condenses on the
incomes. outside of the tubes in the shell. The heat released from the
condensation is transferred to the feedwater through walls of
Keywords: Power plant; Feed water heaters; Plant efficiency.
the tubes. The condensate (saturated water at the steam
extraction pressure) passes through a trap into the next lower
Nomenclature
pressure heater. This reduces the steam required by that
HMBD - Heat and Mass Balance Diagram. heater. The trap passes only liquid and no vapour. The drip
m - Mass flow rate (kg/s) from the lowest pressure heater could similarly be trapped to
Q - Energy (J/s) the condenser, but this would be throwing away energy to the
h - Enthalpy (kcal/kg)
H - Internal energy (Kcal) condenser cooling water. Fig 1 shows an example of three
P - Pressure (bar) feedwater heaters connected in series.
ρ - Density (kg/m3)
T - Temperature (Deg C)
V - Volume (m3)
BIS - Bureau of Indian Standard.
H.E.I - Heat Exchanger Institute
TEMA - Tubular Exchanger
Manufacturer Association
ASME - American Society of
Mechanical Engineers
GTTD - Greater terminal temperature
difference, (0C)
LTTD - Lesser terminal temperature
difference, (0C)
U - Overall heat transfer
coefficient, W/m2 0C
A - Heat transfer surface area, m2
F - Correction factor for the log
mean temperature difference Fig 1: Feedwater Heater arrangement
calculationSubscripts
c - cold fluid (feedwater) Table 1: Explanation of numbers in Fig1
d - fluid from the previous heaters or
other processes No Description Feedwater heater
h - hot fluid (steam)
1 Feedwater outlet 1,4,9&14
2 Bleed steam inlet 2,7&12
I. INTRODUCTION 3 Condensate outlet 3,5,10&13
4 Flash box condensate 6&11

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Volume V, Issue III, March 2016 IJLTEMAS ISSN 2278 – 2540

The heat transfer area in a feedwater heater is divided into feedwater heater and fig 3 different zones of feedwater heat
three zones 1. Desuperheating 2. Condensing, 3.Drain transfer area.
cooling. Fig 2 shows general arrangement diagram of

Fig 2: G.A of feedwater heater

Fig 3: Different zones of feedwater heater

. GOVERNING EQUATIONS
II
Heat transfer in a feedwater heater can be formulated transferred by the feedwater heater. It will also have an overall
as: heat transfer coefficient, U, and a heat transfer surface area, A.
The value of the logarithmic mean temperature difference
(LMTD), Δtm, may be calculated for pure parallel flow or
counter flow heat exchangers with the following equation [2] :
Q = UAF Δtm (1)
GTTD - LTTD
Δtm = (2)
Each feedwater heater zone will have an individual
ln (GTTD/LTTD)
heat transfer value, Q , the sum of which will equal total heat

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Volume V, Issue III, March 2016 IJLTEMAS ISSN 2278 – 2540

where, the greater terminal temperature difference, In Eq. (1), the heat transfer surface area, A, can be
GTTD, and the lesser terminal temperature difference, LTTD, calculated from the geometry of the tubes, which are
are calculated [3] in parallel flow heaters by: specifications that

GTTD = thi - tci will be supplied by the heater manufacturer. This value should
be corrected, where tubes may have become plugged.
LTTD = tho - tco
Finally, the overall heat transfer coefficient, U, is
and in counterflow heaters by: usually indicated by the manufacturer, but it should be noted
that the value is greatly influenced by specific operating
GTTD = thi - tco conditions.

LTTD = tho - tci Heat rate= mass of steam X (Steam outlet enthalpy –
Feed water enthalpy)
In Eq. (1), the correct factor, F, depends upon the
particular flow arragment in shell-and-tubes heat exchangers Poweroutput
[4].
III. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF FEEDWATER HEATER
In the case of nuclear power plants, the hot fluid inlet Feedwater heaters are shell-and-tube heat exchangers, U-tube
temperature, thi, is the saturation temperature at heater type heaters, which perform the special function of recovering
pressure; as this pressure is known by a pressure transmitter heat from turbine extraction steam by preheating the boiler
usually installed in the heater, the temperature can be feedwater. High-pressure feedwater heaters are located
calculated by using the IAPWS (International Association for downstream of the high-pressure boiler feedwater pump
the Properties of Water and Steam) formulation [5]. whereas low-pressure feedwater heaters are located
downstream of the condensate pump. The steam that is
If Eq. (1) is resolved for a single zone (condensing)
extracted from the turbine is in most case available at
feedwater heater, all temperatures in the preceding equations
superheated state. Heat is extracted first by desuperheating the
will be known, and the value of the logarithmic log mean
steam, then by condensing the steam to bring it to saturated
temperature difference, Δtm, may be easily calculated.
liquid state and in most cases, by further subcooling it to a
However, the single zone design is not the normal design for
temperature below the saturation temperature. Fig 4 shows
power plant heaters with two or more zones (desuperheating,
simplified scheme of piping and instrument diagram of
condensing and drain cooling). The intermediate temperatures
feedwater heater.
of the cold fluid (feedwater) should therefore be calculated, as
will be discussed later, by using an indirect procedure.

Fig 4: Piping and instrument diagram of feedwater heater

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Volume V, Issue III, March 2016 IJLTEMAS ISSN 2278 – 2540

3.1 Operational parameters of feedwater heater

Sl.No. Description Units Shell side Tube side
1 Medium SH steam Feed water
2 Normal Flow Tph 10 116
3 Enthalpy at inlet Kcal/Kg 730.91 155.58
4 Enthalpy at outlet Kcal/Kg 160.34 205.11
5 Temperature at inlet Deg C 311.4 153.1
6 Temperature at outlet Deg C 158.9 200.7
7 Pressure at inlet bar g 16.97 102
8 Pressure at outlet bar g 16.40 101
9 Maximum flow condition Tph 11 207.11
10 Feed pump shut off pressure Bar - 115
11 Pressure drop allowed Bar 0.5 1
12 Material of tube SS 304
13 No of passes Two
14 Terminal temperature difference Deg C 2.6
15 Drain cooler approach Deg C 5.5
16 Corrosion allowance mm 3.2 3.2
17 Radiography/Joint efficiency Full/1.0 Full/1.0
18 Code of design HEI/IBR/ASME
19 Material of supports IS 2062
20 Material of shell/channel SA 515 Gr. 70
21 Bolts/nuts SA 193 Gr. B7 / 194 Gr. 2H
22 Hydraulic test pressure Bar As per code As per code

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

4.1 Power plant cycle without feedwater heater The coal requirement for the above condition is 26.17 TPH,
considering GCV of fuel around 3500 kcal/kg.The turbine
Typical power plant, 30 MW capacity, has been analysed heat rate is 2425.15 kcal/kwh (without feedwater heater).
without feedwater heater arrangeemnt by using HMBD. The
selected main steam parameters are 88 ata and 520 0C. The Considering the above all parameters, the overall power plant
required steam flow is 110.30 TPH to generate 30 MW power. efficiency for without feedwater condition is 28.36%. The
The feedwater parameters at inlet condition of boiler are 100 HMBD for without feedwater heater condition is shown fig 5 :
ata,154.8 0C and enthalpy of feedwater is 157.32 kcal/kg.

Fig 5: HMBD for without feedwater heater condition

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Volume V, Issue III, March 2016 IJLTEMAS ISSN 2278 – 2540

4.2 Power plant cycle with feedwater heater The coal requirement for the above condition is 25.5 TPH,
considering GCV of fuel around 3500 kcal/kg.The turbine
The same main steam parameters are (88 ata and 520 0C) heat rate is 2366.12 kcal/kwh (with feedwater heater).
selected for above condition also. The required steam flow is
115.99 TPH to generate 30 MW power. The feedwater Considering the above all parameters, the overall power plant
parameters at inlet condition of boiler are 100 ata, 200.7 0C efficiency for with feedwater condition is 29.07%. The
and enthalpy of feedwater is 205.11 kcal/kg. HMBD for with feedwater heater condition is shown fig 6:

Fig 6: HMBD for with feedwater heater condition

V.CONCLUSION
The effects of the feedwater heaters on the [2]. Mario Álvarez-Fernández, Luis del Portillo-Valdés,
Cristina Alonso-Tristán” Thermal analysis of closed
performance of coal-fired power plant have been determined
feedwater heaters in nuclear power plants”
through analysis of using HMBD. An analysis reveals that Applied Thermal Engineering, Volume 68, Issues 1–
overall power plant efficiency has been increased by 2.4 % 2, July 2014, Pages 45-58.
using feedwater heater. The turbine heat rate and coal [3]. Standards of the Tubular Exchanger Manufacturers Association,
eighth ed., TEMA (Tubular Exchanger Manufacturers
consumption have been considerably decreased. This implies
Association), Tarrytown, NY, USA.
a direct reduction CO2 emission. The final result shows an [4]. A.J. Chapman, Fundamentals of Heat Transfer, Macmillan, New
overall better performance of power plant by using feedwater York.
heaters. [5]. W.M. Kays, A.L. London, Compact Heat Exchangers, third ed.,
McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, USA, 1984.
[6]. W.T. Parry, ASME International Steam Tables for Industrial Use:
REFERENCES Based on the IAPWS Industrial Formulation 1997 for
[1]. Chao Fu, Rahul Anantharaman, Kristin Jordal “Thermal efficiency theThermodynamic Properties of Water and Steam (IAPWS-
of coal-fired power plants: From theoretical to practical IF97), American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York,
assessments” Energy Conversion and Management, Volume NY, USA, 2009.
105, 15 November 2015, Pages 530-544.

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