Can the circulating water from thermal power plants be shared with that from chemical processing units?

It depends on the condition of the cooler. The condensers in ordinary power plants are made of copper tubes, while the heat exchangers in chemical plants are mostly made of steel tubes. The corrosion and anti-corrosion conditions of copper pipes and steel pipes are different, so it is best to treat them separately. I have an idea: the cooling water system should be determined based on the material of the heat exchanger, regardless of the device. Copper pipes form one system, stainless steel pipes form another system, and carbon steel pipes form yet another system. In this way, by selecting scale and corrosion inhibitors based on the material, a longer operating life for the circulating water system can be ensured. Please forgive any mistakes.

The requirements for the quality of circulating water vary among different systems; therefore, systems are differentiated in order to ensure operational safety and economic efficiency. If differentiation were based solely on the material of the steel pipes, it would be necessary to tailor the chemical treatment processes to meet the highest requirements of individual devices within each system, which would inevitably lead to waste of resources, increased maintenance costs, and reduced economic efficiency.

As long as the circulating water quality meets the common requirements of both, it can of course be shared.

Since other chemical materials can easily mix into the circulating water of chemical plants, the quality of the circulating water in ordinary power plants is relatively pure. The circulating water mixed with chemical substances, after entering the power plant’s condenser, may end up in the boiler feed water. Condenser leaks are quite common, and dangerous situations can occur in high-pressure boilers. So I think it’s better not to share them. How is it done in actual factory setups? Please, those who are experienced in running it, share your actual experiences.

I think it’s best not to put them together either. The circulating water in power plants is relatively simple, but that’s not the case in chemical plants, where there can be all kinds of substances. If any of these substances leak from a chemical plant, it’s very likely to affect the power plant. I have encountered situations where they were placed together, and when a chemical plant had a leak, large amounts of sulfuric acid ended up in the circulating water. Fortunately, it was detected early; on the surface, it seemed that the condenser of the turbine was cleaned thoroughly and the vacuum level increased. However, the impact on its lifespan remains unknown.

It’s best not to share them to avoid affecting each other.

In my opinion, it’s best not to use them in public facilities; circulation water condensers in chemical processing units often experience leaks, and by testing the quality of the circulation water, it’s possible to determine which heat exchanger is leaking.

Generally, they are not shared: first, the water used in chemical plants may be corrosive; second, the required water temperature for chemical processes is lower than that required for thermal power applications

You masters of operation, come out and share your knowledge. Is there anything that is actually shared?

Hehe, there are actually quite a lot that are used commonly too. Sharing does have some drawbacks, but it’s not impossible to do so. In actual factory operations, the choices made are not always ideal; various factors such as investment and operating costs must be taken into consideration.

1. First, look at your determination to use it together; if it’s absolutely necessary, then there will be a way to do so. 2. If it’s optional, then it depends on the recommendations and expertise of the hydraulic equipment manufacturer. 3. If you don’t want to use it, then don’t use it. 4. When the enemy attacks, meet them with troops; when water comes, block it with earth. First, determine one side, and then discuss the rest. 5. If used together, the following problems may arise: 1) With different materials, corrosion issues need to be considered comprehensively. 2) Depending on the type of heat exchanger, consider whether flow rate has an impact. 3) Different dosages of chemicals: check whether this will result in waste. 4) Different cooling media require emergency plans in case of leaks. This solution must be different from operating it separately, because the water retention capacity increases; in the event of a leak, all the water becomes contaminated, and the processing procedures and costs are different in such cases.

It is best to keep them separate, but there are also common elements in engineering applications. We are currently building a fertilizer plant equipped with a power station; the entire plant has a common circulating water system, and the power station draws water from this system via main pipes.

Can the circulating water from thermal power plants be shared with that from chemical processing units? I think it depends on the type of heat exchanger, whether it is for surface heat exchange or mixed heat exchange. If it is surface heat transfer, it should be possible to share it.