Theoretical model for evaluation of variable frequency drive for cooling water pumps in sea water based once through condenser cooling water systems

In sea water based once through cooling water system for power plants, sea water is pumped through the condenser and the return hot water is let back to sea. The cooling water pumps (CWP) in power plants generally operate at constant speed, pumping variable quantities of water depending on the tide level in the sea. The variable flow causes variation in condenser back pressure resulting in changes in the turbine cycle heat rate. If the pump speed is controlled using a variable frequency drive (VFD) to maintain design flow irrespective of the tide level, the CWP power consumption can be reduced compared to the case with constant speed CWP. However, the turbine cycle heat rate benefit that could have accrued at tide levels above the pre defined level (for fixing the CWP head) with constant speed CWP would have to be sacrificed. This paper provides a theoretical model with a typical case study to establish viability of providing VFD for CWPs in power plants with sea water based once through condenser cooling water system.