Condenser in Ammonia plant

WATER-COOLED CONDENSERS
More efficient than air-cooled condensers Water temperature can be maintained Water temperature directly affects system pressures Three types of water-cooled condensers
Tube within a tube condenser Shell and coil condenser Shell and tube condenser

Shell and tube Condenser

Methanator discharge gas is piped into the shell Water flows through the tubes in the condenser The ends of the shell are removed for cleaning The shell acts as a receiver Most expensive type of condenser

Condensation inside horizontal tubes

stratified flow

annular flow

RECIRCULATED WATER
The water flowing through the condenser is pumped to a remote location, cooled and reused Design water temperature is 25oC A water flow rate of 416 kg/s of refrigeration is required to absorb the heat rejected by the system condenser The water leaving the condenser is about 40C

Shell and Tube design procedure

Kerns Method

This method was based on experimental work on commercial exchangers with standard tolerances and will give a reasonably satisfactory prediction of the heattransfer coefficient for standard designs.

Bells method This method is designed to predict the local heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop by incorporating the effect of leak and by-passing inside the shell and also can be used to investigate the effect of constructional tolerance and the use of seal strip

Kerns Method

Pressure drop inside the tubes

Pressure drop inside the shell

10

Four Condenser Configuration are Possible

1) Horizontal with condensation in shell side and cooling medium in the tubes. 2) Horizontal with condensation in tube side cooling medium in shell side. 3) Vertical with condensation in the shell. 4) Vertical with condensation in the tubes.

DESIGN CALCULATIONS OF CONDENSER

1.3 kpa

P = 53 kpa