Condensate Extraction Pumps (CEP)

Condensate is ideal boiler feed water so it is returned back the boiler. The condensate becuse it is hot saves 1% fuel for every 6 deg. C rise in your boiler feed water temperature. It is distilled soft water hence it minimizes corrossion of boiler tubes and scales as well as saving water treatment cost. It increases the boiler life with increased efficiency.

I have not asked about Condensate only. My question is what is use of CEP in steam power plant and its basic function of pump

Dear Mr. j rastogi,

You are referring to CEP - CONDENSATE EXTRACTION PUMP.

No other Purpose for CEP other than REMOVAL of CONDENSATE. The Basic Function of CEP is to remove the condensate under Vaccuum.

The condensate is extracted against vaccuum, hence the name CONDENSATE EXTRATION PUMP.

DHAYANANDHAN.S

Google to the rescue, once again. I think you'll find the answer to your question here, as well as many others.http://www.massengineers.com/Documents/turbine_aux_question.htm

The purpose of the CEP is to remove liquid water from the steam side of the condenser. It must do this while working against and maintaining the condenser vacuum. If the water were not recovered from the condenser, it would eventually fill and conceivably the water level could rise to the level of the turbine's blades causing serious, incapacitating damage to the turbine.

Boy howdy, your not kidding! Just out of curiosity, have you ever witnessed this? I used to work in the engine room on a Navy destroyer. Loss of vacuum was a constant worry, If water was to hit those turbines, the result would be very very bad. Being the freak that I am, I kind of would like to see what happens, under controlled circumstances of course.

No, the turbine usually trips on high exhaust temperature/pressure before the water gets that high.

Most land based systems use a surface condenser and when the water level covers the heat exchanger tubes, the condenser stops doing any effective work. When the condenser stops condensing, the pressure and temperature quickly rise and the protection systems usually trip the machine.

If the protection systems are bypassed, out of service or just not there, the pressure relief valve on the turbine/condenser exhaust opens and the steam/water is vented. if water does get to the turbine blades, destruction of at least the last stage or two is likely.

Yes, I have seen the wretched remains of machines where water has backed up into the exhaust and machines where liquid water entered with the HP steam. Both resulted in wrecks. I wasn't there when the water backed into the exhaust but i was present when a feed water control issue flooded a boiler and took out a 6MW machine. It was quite exciting for a few seconds, those seconds seemed like minutes.