gland steam condenser 2

[lorenzo67]

Hello at every body,
I don't understand what is the gland steam condenser.

Someone can explain it to me or give me where is possible to try information.

Thanks

 

[JJPellin]

We use this term to describe a small heat exchanger that is used to condense the steam that leaks past the first section of seals on the shaft of a steam turbine. Specifically, if the turbine exhausts into a vacuum system, it is necessary to inject sealing steam into the seals in order to keep the low pressure end of the turbine from drawing in atmospheric air. This sealing steam from the low pressure end and the normal leakage from the high pressure end would tend to leak out and blow toward the bearing housing. In order to reduce the chance of this leakage causing an accumulation of water in the lube oil system, we use a gland steam condenser to draw a very slight vacuum (typically 2 or 3 in-Hg) at the outer section of the shaft seals. The gland condenser uses cooling water to condense this steam to water which is usually lost to sewer. A steam powered eductor draws a vacuum and expels the non-condensables that are drawn down with the steam to the gland condenser. Any literature on large condensing steam turbines should include information about the gland steam condenser system.

Johnny Pellin

 

[lorenzo67]

Thanks Jonny,
your comment is very clear and specific so now, finaly, I understand what is a gland steam condens