Investigation of the saturated steam sampling method influence on the sample representativeness in chemical control systems at thermal power plants

Abstract

The most important requirement for sampling is the sample representativeness, which is achieved by the design and location choice of sample nozzle, as well as the speed mode and the presence of sharp pressure drops in the saturated steam flow. The Ansys CFX software package simulates the sampling processes saturated steam in power units with low, medium and high pressure boilers which are used on operating thermal power plants. The saturated steam was sampled from low-pressure boiler by a single-strip probe with a Venturi nozzle, from the medium-pressure boiler was sampled by tapping a pipe at 90 to the main steam line, and the steam of the high – pressure boiler was sampled by a wellhead probe. In three sampling cases it is found that of saturated steam, the flow in the sample nozzle loses speed and decreases to values unacceptable for the selection of a representative sample-below tear rate of the moisture film from the surface. It is confirmed that in the industrial sampling conditions, the condition of speeds equality in the main steam line and in the sample nozzle is not met, which leads to a violation of the sample representativeness. The paper studies the change in the composition of the sampled saturated vapor sample after the film formation on the sample’s nozzle wall in relation to power units with ammonia dosing. It was found that the sample received by the chemical control analyzers is depleted due to the formation of a film and the ferrum and ammonia concentration in moisture droplets on the inner surface of the sampling line.