Process Description:
High Pressure Steam Condensing System for Model-Boiler Steam-Generator Tube Test Facility

An Enders condensing system was designed and supplied to Argonne National Labs, Argonne, Illinois for removal up to 40 kw of heat from a high-pressure electric boiler (supplied by others). The heat is sent in to the room by blowing room air at high velocity over the outside of a finned pipe. Boiler steam is condensed on the inside as steam contacts the cold surface. A thermocouple, sensing boiler steam temperature, connects to a controller which varies the air flow over the condenser by changing fan motor speed (rpm). If temperature is above set point fan rpm increases blowing more air over the condenser and bringing temperature to set point (and visa versa). System included condenser, three (3) fans with variable speed drive motors, controls, duct work, strucural steel and start-up assistance. Upper left side of picture shows one black fan. Two (2) more fans ar stacked directly above the visible one. The vertical finned pipe condenser is also visible and bolted to the top of the high pressure boiler.

Figure 1. Argonne Model Boiler Facility Built for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commision for studying stress corrosion cracking of nuclear steam generator tubes produced by heat transfer induced chemical hideout / concentration of bulk water trace chemicals in crevices formed by the tubes and support plates. Shown is the fully assembled Model Boiler comprised of a two-chamber pressure vessel (primary/secondary), 40 kw primary electrical heater, 6 zones of combined insulation-blankets/trace-electrical-heaters, secondary fined-steam condenser heat rejection pipe, 3-fan air blower for controlled secondary condenser pipe heat rejection, and rupture disc pressure-protection system discharge collection tank.