System for dumping steam into a condenser

Dump Tube
Dump Tube
z Optimized size of bypass valve and dump
tube gives low investment cost

z The expensive large diameter pipe between

the bypass valve and the condenser can be
reduced and made very short

z Accurate temperature control

z Each dump tube is specially designed for

each application. The steam entering the
water-cooled condenser from the bypass
valve can be directed to avoid damage to
the condenser internals

Application Fig 1 Dump tube

The dump tube is used together with a steam conditioning

valve in applications, such as turbine bypass where steam
is dumped into a condenser.

Function
The dump tube is welded to the steam pipe downstream
of the bypass valve. See fig 2.

The dump tube is a fixed orifice, which reduces the

bypass steam pressure down to the pressure of the Steam inlet
condenser.
Water inlet
There are two main applications for the dump tube:
BTG
• Water-cooled condenser. The dump tube is mounted
in the condenser. See fig 4.

• Air-cooled condenser. The dump tube is mounted in Min.

the bypass line which is connected to a header 6x∅D
going from the turbine outlet to the air-cooled (> 2 m)
condenser. See fig 5. Condenser wall
>200 mm

BTG Dump tube

© CCI 2002
Product sheet

Fig 2 Bypass valve VLB with dump tube

PS579.01e
System
The cooling water required for reducing the live steam tem-
perature to condenser condition, is injected into the steam
conditioning valve. No cooling is required in the condenser.
The steam flow through the dump tube contains some per-
centage of free water, due to the overspray in the valve to
ensure condenser condition after the dump tube.
Therefore, it is not possible to measure the outlet temperature
after the bypass valve.
BTG has developed a feed forward algorithm, which is part
of the scope of supply together with bypass valve and dump
tube, for calculation of the required spray water flow. The
algorithm is to be used in customer’s Distribution Control
System - DCS. See fig 3. Inlet steam pressure (P), tempera-
ture (T), and bypass valve position (Z) give the actual steam
flow into the valve.
Required spray water flow, to reach the desired outlet tem-
perature, is calculated and compared with the actual spray
water flow, measured via a flowmeter, FT. The result is a
control signal to the positioner on the spray water valve.
This flow signal is used to limit the flow through the valve at
turbine trip, in case the valve is designed with a larger KV
than needed at turbine trip. (The KV-value is calculated in
accordance with the typical start-up conditions.)
Design
The dimensions of the dump tube and the orientation of the
orifice area are determined by the following factors:
• Operating conditions of the steam conditioning valve
(pressure, temperature, flow, pipe dimensions, percent-
age of free water through the dump tube).
• Operating conditions of the condenser (pressure, tem-
perature).
• Condenser design.
In most cases, the dump tubes are made in single-tube ver-
sions. For special applications, double-tube versions can be
made.

The pressure transmitter (2), measures the steam pressure Material 13CrMo44 is used for normal turbine bypass
before the dump tube. Since the dump tube is a fixed orifice, operation.
the signal from PT 2 indicates the flow through the dump
tube. Stainless steel is selected for longer operational time.

Z
(1)
(2)

PT = Pressure Transmitter
TT = Temperature Transmitter
FT = Flow Transmitter
Fig 3 Principle control scheme. Feed forward system

PS579.01e 2 ©CCI 2002

Fig 4 Dump tube installation. Water-cooled condenser

In this type of installation it is common to arrange the holes in the dump tube like this, two 90°-sectors. It is not allowed to
direct the steam up to the turbine exhaust, or directly down onto the tubes in the condenser.

Fig 5 Dump tube installation. Air-cooled condenser

In this type of installation it is common to drill holes around the complete circumference, 360°.

©CCI 2002 3 PS579.01e

 Installation examples
Dump Tube
Typical applications of the steam conditioning valve type VLB with dump tube. These applications can also include
VLB, VLBS, VST and VST-SE. See separate product sheet. Always contact the BTG representative for further infor-
mation.

Fig 6 Typical installation of steam conditioning valve type VLB with dump tube in a power station

Example: Conventional reheater.

Fig 7 Typical installation of steam condition- Fig 8 Typical installation of steam condition-
ing valve type VLB with dump tube in a ing valve type VLB with dump tube in the
power station process industry

Example: Combined cycle, triple pressure. Example: Combined cycle.

© CCI 2002

CCI reserves the right to make technical improvements.

Product sheet

BTG BILLBLADE-HSM and DUROBLADE

Printed on G-Print 115 g/m2 coated on a

CCI Valve Technology AB

Box 603, SE-661 29 Säffle, Sweden
or TWIN-HSM coaters
PS579.01e

Phone +46 533 689 600, Fax +46 533 689 601
e-mail: info@ccivalve.se, www.ccivalve.com